For years, the pay structure in athletics has been a subject of scrutiny. Late payments, not getting enough investment despite the popularity, are some of the facts that made the income framework of track and field debatable. However, what major athletics meets couldn’t do, Alexis Ohanian’s Athlos has done. Let’s take Brittany Brown’s example. After triumphing in the 200m finale at the Diamond League, Brown lit up the track once again at Athlos, earning a double prize that might just outshine her Diamond League victory.

Last year, Brittany Brown triumphed at the inaugural Athlos event, and this year, the Olympic bronze medalist once again etched her name into the Athlos record books. She even surprised herself by completing a sprint double at Icahn Stadium on Friday. Brown surged ahead at the halfway mark and held on fiercely to win the 100m sprint in 10.99 seconds, edging compatriot Jacious Sears by just two hundredths of a second.

Remarkably, just an hour later, the 200m Olympic bronze medalist returned to dominate the longer sprint, clocking a personal best of 21.89 seconds to defeat compatriot Anavia Battle (22.21) and Ivorian star Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith (22.65). With her double victory, the athlete earned a massive $120,000 instantly, as Cash App transferred the prize money to her account in the blink of an eye.

This was a monumental win for the athlete, especially considering she took home $70,000 for her Diamond League victory this year. In fact, as she finished 6th at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships, she earned $7,000. However, her Athlos payout surpassed the combined earnings from both the Diamond League and World Athletics Championships.

Reflecting on her performance, the athlete admitted she was as surprised as anyone, perhaps even more. “I was more shocked at the 100m (win) because that was only my second 100m of the year,” said Brown, who had missed several months of training after undergoing laparoscopic surgery in December. “The 200m, it was more like — that’s my baby — I was still shocked but it was less of a shock.” 

Along with the prize money, she also received the stunning $25,000 Tiffany crown. That’s a massive reward, and perhaps, it’s the proof that Ohanian has finally cracked one of the biggest problems in sports.

Brittany Brown believes Alexis Ohanian has solved track and field’s biggest problem

Athletes, especially those in track and field, face a harsh reality: they’re underpaid. Without solid endorsements or sponsorships, it’s nearly impossible to make a living off prize money alone. Only the elite few truly earn big. However, Alexis Ohanian seems to be changing the game for many. Recently, ahead of the Athlos NYC event, Brittany Brown sat down with ESPN for a quick chat. Amid the buzz, one of the questions thrown her way was about Ohanian’s bold decision to double the athletes’ prize money.

Answering the question, Brown praised Ohanian for his initiative to support the athletes, as she stated, “Track is a sport that’s still growing. In comparison to other sports, in terms of prize money, we’re just not there yet. I think as we get to LA and farther beyond, it’s important to raise the prize money because a lot of athletes sacrifice so much for this job, and we should be compensated. We should be compensated fairly. It’s super important to start doing this now—start implementing these rules, these statuses, and setting where we need to be.”

Well, Ohanian clearly listened. After years of athletes calling for better pay, he raised the bar in signature style. The Reddit co-founder solved two problems in one go: first, the issue of underpayment, and second, the delay in prize disbursement.