Have you ever heard of the names Usain Bolt, Noah Lyles, and Carl Lewis? What about Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Faith Kipyegon, or Tara Davis-Woodhall? You probably recognize the first set of names but are unfamiliar with the second group of athletes. In a world full of male-dominated sports, female athletes are often overlooked in comparison to their male counterparts.
With this, Brooke Gutierrez (9), a cross country runner at Yorba Linda High School, states, “I feel disappointed that women aren’t more recognized for sports like men are; however, this being the issue inspires me and many other girls to break records and maintain a competitive spirit”. To challenge the gender inequity that has grown increasingly evident throughout the history of sports, Alexis Ohanian established Athlos, a female-driven track and field meet that is reforming the playing field for all women (Vogue).
Athlos most recently took place on October 10th, 2025, in various locations around New York City, including Icahn Stadium and Times Square. This year, Ohanian decided to reward athletes with a cash prize of $60,000 per event won. To put this into perspective, the highest track and field league, Diamond League, only offers winning female athletes $30,000 per event (Voice In Sport). Not only do the winning female athletes get a generous cash prize, but they are also personally honored by Serena Williams with a custom Tiffany & Co. crown. These rewards are revolutionary for female athletes due to the financial struggles that may arise throughout their careers. For instance, Many female athletes are responsible for paying travel, medical, and competition expenses, which can be difficult considering their typical salary.
The prize crown and money were only one factor of recognition that female athletes received throughout the event. They were additionally flown in a day early for dinner and received a makeover before attending their video and photo shoot (Forbes). Throughout the event, these athletes did not treat each other like enemies; instead, they celebrated the historic meet and the difference they were making for the future of women’s track and field. This event was the perfect way for athletes across Australia, the United States, Jamaica, and Kenya to end the season.
The Athlos Track and Field event purposely incorporated an abundance of publicity to highlight the competing individuals. The event was sponsored by major brands, including Strava, Toyota, StubHub, and World Athletics, which attracted a larger audience and amplified the existing support system. With these well-known sponsors, Athlos was able to reach outside of its usual demographic and reach the screens of more general viewers. This action allowed several underappreciated athletes to acquire sponsorships that possessed the potential to advance their careers.
In addition to making women’s track and field more mainstream, Alexis Ohanian commissioned Pop Culture sensations Ciara and Megan Thee Stallion to perform at Athlos (Forbes). By doing this, Athlos gained more attention for the ways they were celebrating female athletes and structuring the meet in an unconventional yet exciting manner. The more traction the event received, the more opportunities were made accessible for the competing racers.
Athlos truly altered the way track and field meets will be structured going into the future. It proved the importance of female athletes in the sporting world and provided the recognition these athletes very much deserved. Anya Bharadwaj (9) claims, “watching women’s track athletes compete in Athlos has inspired me to join [track and field] and brought me joy watching these women succeed”. Althos was certainly a significant event that not only changed track and field as an individual event, but succeeded in taking the first steps towards bridging the gender equality gap in the sporting world.
