“It’s a really incredible feeling. It has been a long time coming, and it’s really incredible to see it come to fruition,” Gabby Thomas said. Women’s track is getting its biggest shake-up in decades. And it’s not just about speed anymore. After a star-studded launch last year that redefined what a track meet could look like, ATHLOS is back with an even bolder move: a full-blown team-based league launching in 2026. Think fewer lanes, more loyalty. Less solo glory, more squad goals. This is track reimagined. And the revolution starts now, that too with the company of Sha’Carri Richardson!

Last year’s ATHLOS debut at New York’s Icahn Stadium was more than just a meet. It was a cultural moment. Designed to mirror the energy of Formula One’s Miami Grand Prix, the event had just six races, each packed with elite talent, Olympic hardware, and a prize purse so massive it stunned the sport. With $110,000 up for grabs per race and $60,000 to each winner, it was clear from the start that this wasn’t your traditional track showcase.

It was fast, flashy, and fiercely competitive. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, the mind behind ATHLOS, had studied the formula, and now, he’s rewriting the playbook once again. For the 2026 season, ATHLOS is transitioning to a team-based women’s track and field league. One that promises multiple meets in major cities, a new fan-centric approach, and athlete-led innovation at its core.

This isn’t just another series of races; it’s an overhaul of how the sport is experienced. “I couldn’t be more excited to welcome the one & only @itsshacarri to ATHLOS as an owner in our new women’s track & field league (debuting in 2026!!),” Ohanian wrote on X, revealing that superstar sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson would join the league as an advisor-owner. 

And quite expectedly, Richardson, too, could not seem to hold back her excitement. Replying to the primary tweet of ATHLOS, Richardson replied, “It’s time!” She’ll be joined by Olympic medalists Gabby Thomas and Tara Davis-Woodhall, all of whom will help shape this bold new format from within. The structure of ATHLOS 2026 will feel more like the WNBA or Formula 1 than a typical athletics season.

Built “for and by athletes, tailored to a modern fanbase,” this new model is designed to captivate beyond just the stopwatch. While the traditional calendar has long been dominated by the Diamond League and other meets crowding the spring and summer, ATHLOS strategically plans to run its season after the conclusion of World Athletics events, culminating in its final championship showdown following the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest next September.

And it’s not just about when or where they race. It’s about who these athletes race for. Team branding, city rivalries, and storylines that evolve across meets promise to bring track and field into a new era of entertainment. ATHLOS isn’t just creating a league. It’s building a world, one that invites fans to care as much about who wins as they do about who’s running.

By aligning with athletes, allowing them to hold ownership stakes, and prioritizing both performance and personality, Ohanian is transforming the sport into something much more immersive. It’s a track, but cinematic. It’s competition, but the community. As the 2026 season draws closer, ATHLOS is betting big on what fans want. And what athletes deserve.

High stakes. High style. And now, high teams. The future of track may be faster than ever. But it’s also finally running in formation.

Did Alexis Ohanian already make the Prediction for Athlos 2025 getting bigger and better?

Alexis Ohanian is no stranger to bold bets. And when it comes to Athlos, he’s doubling down. The tech mogul and champion of women’s sports has teased a transformative leap for the groundbreaking track and field event. With his eyes set on October 10, Ohanian is already fueling anticipation, declaring, “We’re back! And @ATHLOS is gonna be even bigger & better. More announcements to come. See you 10/10 in NYC.”

His confidence isn’t coming out of thin air. Riding high on the success of the inaugural Athlos, Ohanian has laid the groundwork for something even more electrifying. While details remain under wraps, he recently reshared a post from Citius Mag that hinted at what’s in store. The update confirmed Athlos’ return to New York’s Icahn Stadium and spotlighted early commitments from Olympic champions like Gabby Thomas, Marileidy Paulino, and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, setting the tone for a fiercely competitive and globally relevant meet.

And now, the track queen, Sha’Carri Richardson, too, has joined the list. What makes Ohanian’s prediction all the more compelling is his track record of delivering spectacle and substance. From massive cash prizes to high-energy performances, Athlos redefined what a woman-only meet could look like. Now, with Ohanian openly hinting at more surprises, expectations are climbing fast.

His vision is clear: a platform that doesn’t just celebrate female athletes but elevates their stage entirely. And if history is any indication, “bigger & better” may be an understatement.