"Formula 1 of Track and Field"? Athlos Debuts in London

The women's track and field tournament Athlos will debut in London in 2026, expanding its event to two days. Founded by Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and husband of 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, Athlos aims to become the "Formula 1 of track and field."

Athlos’ Expansion and Prize Pool

Athlos will also host its third consecutive event in New York. In addition to the prize pool of $2.1 million (£1.5 million), athletes will receive equity in the league, rewarding them if it proves successful.

American stars Sha'Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas, Tara Davis-Woodhall, Masai Russell, and Dominican sprinter Marileidy Paulino have already confirmed their participation. The events will take place in the StoneX Stadium in Barnet on September 18 and in New York two weeks later.

Founder's Vision

Ohanian, speaking to BBC Sport, expressed his long-standing vision of the tournament as the "Formula 1 of track and field." He said, "I envision Athlos as a version of this, and as the league expands, I want to add more cities and make Athlos truly global."

He added, "Whatever we do, we will do it with our athletes as partners. Our ambition is big. I don’t see any reason why Athlos can’t become an integral part of the sports calendar."