Olympic champions including Gabby Thomas, Masai Russell and Marileidy Paulino will be a part of Alexis Ohanian's track league. PHOTO: Getty Images

From Gabby Thomas, Masai Russell to Marileidy Paulino: Olympic champions participating in Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian's new track league

Modified Sep 20, 2024 13:33 GMT

The Athlos NYC, launched by Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian featuring Gabby Thomas, Faith Kipyegon, and Marileidy Paulino, is all set to take center stage for its inaugural edition on 26 September 2024. The event is scheduled at the Icahn Stadium, in New York City, beginning from 7 PM Eastern Time Onwards.

The female-exclusive track meet will see the participation of elite female athletes in different disciplines including 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, and 100m Hurdles. At the Athos NYC, numerous gold medalists from the Summer Olympics will be participating including Thomas, Russell, Paulino, Kipyegon, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Alexis Holmes, Lieke Klaver, Shamier Little, and Lynna Irby-Jackson.

At the Paris Olympics, Gabby Thomas’ popularity increased following her gold-medal performance in the women’s 200m and being a crucial part of the USA women’s team in the 4x100m and 4x400m relay events. Meanwhile, Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon extended her dominance in Paris by claiming her third gold in the 1500m.

In the 400m dash, Dominican Republic’s Paulino successfully upgraded her silver to gold at this year’s quadrennial games. On the other hand, Masai Russell displayed a brilliant performance in the 100mH finals to become the gold medalist in Paris, ahead of the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, who placed third.

At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Holmes, Klaver, Little, and Irby-Jackson won gold medals for their roles in ensuring their team’s victories in the relay events by competing either in the finals or the heats.

In addition to these athletes, Keni Harrison, Brittany Brown, Salwa Eid Naser, Mary Moraa, Tsige Duguma, and Gudaf Tsegay, are some other Olympic medalists who will feature in the Athlos NYC. A few other prominent names to watch out for are Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith, Danielle Williams, Tamara Clark, Diribe Welteji, and Halimah Nakaayi, who have medaled at the World Athletics Championships.

Gabby Thomas was named the first athlete for Alexis Ohanian's track league

Gabby Thomas at Paris Olympics. (Photo by Steve Christo - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Gabby Thomas teamed up with Serena Williams’ husband for the launch of the 776 Invitational, later rebranded as the Athlos NYC. She was present at TN50: The Business of Women's Sports Summit in New York City held in April 2024, when Ohanian announced it.

She posted regarding the same on her Instagram handle, stating:

“SO excited to partner with @alexisohanian as he hosts the @776fund invitational this year following the Olympic Games!! This event will not only have the biggest purse of any women’s track event, but it will truly make a much needed impact on our sport.”

The Athlos NYC is offering a cash prize of $60,000 to its winner in each event, with second and third-placed athletes in the discipline earning $25,000 and $10,000 respectively. Notably, American singer and rapper Megan Thee Stallion will be performing in the opening ceremony of the league.