ATHLOS Women's Track Series Expands to London with $65,000
The ATHLOS women's-only professional track series holds its third event in London, featuring Olympic champions, Tiffany & Co.
The ATHLOS women's-only professional track series is staging its third event in London on September 18. Founded in 2024 by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, the series offers first-place prize money of US$65,000 per event.
After launching in New York last year, the seven-event series is expanding internationally. It aims to reshape professional track with a festival-like atmosphere, major financial rewards, and a core principle of athlete ownership. According to the source from Running Magazine Canada, athletes compete in the 100m hurdles, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, mile, and long jump.
Prize Money and Championship Rewards
The financial stakes at the ATHLOS meet are notably high. Prize money extends down to sixth place, and the overall winner in each event receives an additional championship bonus.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | US$65,000 |
| 6th | US$6,000 |
The event winner also gets a custom Tiffany & Co. Crown and a US$25,000 championship bonus. This is a deliberate shift from traditional medal ceremonies, designed to broaden the event's appeal.
Athlete Ownership and Key Competitors
A foundational element of ATHLOS is granting eligible participating athletes an equity stake in the league itself. This model of athlete ownership is a significant departure from standard meet structures. Olympic champions Gabby Thomas (200m), Sha'Carri Richardson (100m), and Tara Davis-Woodhall (long jump) are already founding athlete owners and advisors.
The London meet will feature a strong field despite some high-profile withdrawals. Thomas, Richardson, and Olympic 400m champion Marileidy Paulino are among the headline names. Britain's Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson will race in front of a home crowd. She is the reigning ATHLOS 800m champion from last year's New York meet. Canadian 100m record holder Sadé McCreath is registered to compete in both the 100m and 200m.
Withdrawals and Season Fatigue
Olympic 100m hurdles champion Masai Russell announced her withdrawal just days before the event. Her absence shows the physical limits elite athletes face. Long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall has also pulled out after ending her season early due to injuries from a car accident in August.
The series has adjusted its schedule based on athlete feedback. An event originally planned for New York City on October 2 was cancelled. Founder Alexis Ohanian said athletes found it too difficult to compete so late in the season, especially with the World Athletics Ultimate Championship concluding just 19 days prior.
Broadcast Details
The event will be broadcast globally, reaching approximately 120 countries and territories. In Canada, CBC will carry the meet. The livestream begins at 2 p.m. EDT on September 18.
