Justin Gatlin on Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian's new track league (Image: Getty)

"It's going to have a different flare and spin"- Justin Gatlin backs Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian's Athlos NYC for grand inaugural event

Modified Sep 20, 2024 15:40 GMT

Retired American sprinter Justin Gatlin recently shared his thoughts on the Athlos NYC, launched by Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian. The first edition of the Athlos NYC will be held at the Icahn Stadium in New York on Thursday, September 26.

The league, designed exclusively for female track athletes, will offer a huge prize money of $60,000 to the winner in each event, while the second to sixth-placed athletes will also receive cash prizes, namely $25,000, $10,000, $8,000, $5,000, and $2,500, respectively.

Since the event's announcement in April 2024 with Paris Olympics triple gold medalist Gabby Thomas as the first high-profile competitor, many track stars have joined the league, including Faith Kipyegon, Marileidy Paulino, Masai Russell, and Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith, to name a few.

Recently, during the latest episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, Justin Gatlin was questioned by Rodney Green on his views on the Athlos NYC. The Athens 2004 gold medalist in the 100m believed that it would be different than regular track meets and backed the event before its official commencement, stating:

“I feel like it's going to be something different than we've ever seen in track and field. I think it's going to be track and field but it's going to have such like a different flare and spin to it. So, I think it's going to be a really cool experience. I hope that it does very well so it's something that we can see happen annually you know what I mean.” (1:13:51 onwards).

Gatlin also felt that it was the right time for greater investment and emphasis on the women's sports, adding:

“On top of that I mean how sports in the world set up right now, it's time for women to have their own. It's time for women to have like a real base. You know what I'm saying because listen there's a lot of events I love to watch there's a lot of sports I love to watch only because women are in it only because women, they give a certain energy, they play a certain way.”

“A dude who's a dog you expect that, but when you say you see a female who's a dog and competitor it just does something different you be like replay, replay, watch it again. So, to see this meet and I know the audience that's going to show up it's going to be amazing”, the four-time world champion also mentioned.

Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green invited for Athlos NYC

On the Ready Set Go podcast, hosted by Justin Gatlin with the former Bahamian sprinter Rodney Green, content creator and host of Real Talk With Tee, Tiara Williams, recently made an appearance as a guest.

Green revealed during this episode that he and Justin Gatlin will be present at the Icahn Stadium for the inaugural edition of the Athlos. He said (1:13.19 onwards):

“Justin and I have been invited to that meet so we're going to be at the meet."

Notably, the inaugural meet will feature Megan Thee Stallion as the musical performer who will be setting the stage ablaze when the event kicks off at 7:00 PM Eastern Time.