Athlos is not just another sports league—it’s a revolutionary concept designed to center women, empower athletes, and excite fans
With Sha’Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas, and Tara Davis-Woodhall as athlete-owners, the league has the talent, leadership, and vision to challenge the status quo.
As the countdown to 2026 begins, one thing is clear: Athlos isn’t just racing to the finish line—it’s setting a new standard for what sports can be.
As the sun sets on Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s competitive career, her influence continues to rise. She may be taking her final strides on the track, but her legacy will never slow down.
Through the tribute by Athlos, the applause from her peers, and the tears of her fans, one thing is clear: the Queen of the Track will never be forgotten.
She once said, “I am not just running for myself. I’m running for all those who believe they can overcome.” And overcome she did — with every race, every medal, and every comeback. Now, the world stands still to salute a true sporting legend.
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Table of Contents
Alexis Ohanian: Olympic Greatness Reaffirmed in London
While some questioned whether her 2008 victory was a one-time feat, Fraser-Pryce answered with authority at the 2012 London Olympics.1
In a commanding performance, she secured her second Olympic gold in the 100m, reaffirming her place among the greats.
With a radiant smile and unmistakable dyed hair, she became not just a sprinting icon but a symbol of Caribbean pride and female empowerment.
By the end of her Olympic career, she had amassed eight medals:
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🥇 Three Olympic golds
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🥈 Four silvers
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🥉 One bronze
Her consistency on the biggest stage was rivaled by very few in track and field history.
Just leaving this here. pic.twitter.com/qSYQoKkqIU
— Alexis Ohanian 🗽 (@alexisohanian) June 24, 2025
Dominance at the World Championships
The Olympics weren’t her only kingdom. Fraser-Pryce built a formidable legacy at the World Athletics Championships, capturing a staggering 10 gold medals across multiple editions.
Whether it was in the 100m, 200m, or 4x100m relay, she consistently demonstrated excellence. She was a dependable leader for Team Jamaica, often anchoring relay teams to glory and mentoring younger sprinters.
Her world titles spanned from Berlin 2009 to Eugene 2022, highlighting not only her skill but her incredible longevity. In an era where most sprinters peak for a handful of seasons, Fraser-Pryce remained among the best for over a decade and a half.
Speed defines greatness in sprinting, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is officially the third-fastest woman of all time in the 100 meters. Her personal best of 10.60 seconds, set in 2021, came at age 34 — an age when most sprinters have long retired.
The fact that she was running some of the fastest times of her life so late in her career is a testament to her work ethic, discipline, and desire to continually defy age-related expectations.
Alexis Ohanian’s Tribute Through Athlos
Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and husband to Serena Williams, is no stranger to recognizing greatness.2
Through Athlos, his track and field initiative aimed at amplifying the sport’s narratives, Ohanian honored Fraser-Pryce in a touching social media post.
“🥇🥇🥇 Olympic Golds
🥈🥈🥈🥈 Olympic silver
🥉 Olympic bronze
10x World Champion,
3rd fastest woman ever in the 100m,
A great mom, competitor, and overall human 👑🚀”
This tribute reflects not only Fraser-Pryce’s on-track brilliance but also her identity beyond the track — as a mother, role model, and beloved figure in global athletics.
Balancing Motherhood and Mastery
Fraser-Pryce’s story took an inspirational turn after the birth of her son, Zyon, in 2017. Many thought she would retire.
Instead, she returned to the track with even more fire, becoming one of the very few mothers in history to win a global sprint title post-childbirth.
Her victory at the 2019 World Championships in Doha — just two years after giving birth — sent a powerful message: motherhood is not the end, but a new beginning.
Her comeback journey became a blueprint for female athletes everywhere. It reinforced the belief that women do not have to choose between family and career, especially in elite sports.
Alexis Ohanian: Queen of the Diamond League
Fraser-Pryce’s dominance wasn’t limited to the major championships. She also shone brightly on the Diamond League circuit, the annual series of track meets featuring the world’s best.3
She won the Diamond Trophy five times, showcasing her year-round competitiveness. Her consistency across seasons helped maintain fan interest in sprinting, especially in the post-Usain Bolt era.
Whether in Zurich, Paris, or Doha, fans knew when Shelly-Ann was on the starting blocks, fireworks would follow.
Gold Across Continents
The Jamaican superstar also collected gold medals at the Pan American Games and the Commonwealth Games, completing a trophy cabinet that few in athletics can rival.
These wins demonstrated her ability to peak not just at the biggest events but also at regional and multi-sport championships, proudly flying the green, yellow, and black of Jamaica every time she raced.
A Farewell in Kingston: The 2025 Jamaican Nationals
Her final competitive race will take place at the 2025 Jamaican Nationals, held in Kingston.
The national meet has often served as a launchpad for Jamaica’s global domination in sprinting. Now, it will also be the final chapter in one of its most illustrious careers.
Fans, athletes, and officials from around the world are expected to gather for the occasion, turning it into a celebration of excellence and a heartfelt goodbye.
The moment promises to be emotional, both for Fraser-Pryce and for those who grew up idolizing her resilience, humility, and unparalleled speed.
Her Legacy: More Than Medals
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s legacy cannot be measured by medals alone. She is a beacon of hope, a mentor, and a symbol of what can be achieved with grit and faith.
From her humble beginnings in Waterhouse, Kingston, to becoming a global ambassador for women in sport, she has always carried herself with grace.
She opened the door for the next generation of Jamaican sprinters — Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shericka Jackson, and others — to dream big and run fast.
Her story inspires athletes not just in Jamaica, but worldwide, proving that greatness comes from perseverance, not privilege.
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Alexis Ohanian’s Athlos Makes Bold Statement with Athlete-Owners
Athlos, a visionary track and field league spearheaded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, has taken a groundbreaking step toward redefining the future of women’s athletics.
As the league prepares for its highly anticipated second season, Athlos has welcomed three trailblazing American athletes—Sha’Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas, and Tara Davis-Woodhall—as founding advisor-owners.
This announcement signals more than just star power; it showcases a commitment to athlete empowerment, gender equity, and a bold, reimagined future for the sport.
In a social media post that quickly captured the attention of fans and athletes alike, Ohanian wrote:
“I’m thrilled to announce that @itsshacarri is joining @gabbythomas and @taarra as a founding advisor-owner of @athlos and we’re announcing TEAM-BASED TRACK & FIELD LEAGUE FOR 2026 🔥”
With this new athlete-led leadership structure, Athlos is poised to become a transformative force in the world of track and field.
Alexis Ohanian: BTS
Behind the scenes of the launch of Alexis Ohanian’s Creator Now and Next podcast at the 776fund Villa in Cannes with marketing leaders from Microsoft, Patagonia, BBC, Salomon, Linkedin and Canva, where we dove into what’s next in marketing in the age of AI.
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The 2026 Vision: Team-Based Competition and City Showdowns
One of the most revolutionary aspects of Athlos’s plan is the introduction of team-based competition in 2026. Traditionally, track and field has been an individual-centric sport.
However, Athlos plans to flip the script with a model that mirrors successful formats in leagues like the NBA, NFL, and WNBA.
The league will host meets in major U.S. cities, culminating in a championship finale that brings high-stakes excitement and community engagement. The addition of a team format offers numerous advantages:
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Fan Loyalty: Supporters can root for city-based teams, deepening emotional investment.
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Storytelling: Team dynamics offer richer narratives, rivalries, and underdog stories.
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Merchandise and Sponsorships: A more marketable format creates better revenue opportunities.
By 2025, the long jump will be added to Athlos’s current slate of six events: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, and 100m hurdles. These events cover a diverse range of disciplines and highlight a wide array of athletic strengths, making the league more inclusive and exciting for fans.
The Athlete-Ownership Model: A Game-Changer
The inclusion of Richardson, Thomas, and Davis-Woodhall as athlete-owners signals a major shift in how sports leagues operate. Instead of athletes being just performers, Athlos places them at the helm of decision-making.
This model mirrors the increasing athlete empowerment movements across all sports, from LeBron James’s media ventures to the WNBA’s collective bargaining advancements.
Benefits of the athlete-owner model include:
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Strategic Influence: Athletes help shape competition formats, branding, and outreach.
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Financial Equity: Athletes benefit from revenue, merchandising, and media rights.
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Mentorship Pipeline: Future generations of athletes can be mentored by those in leadership roles.
Athlos isn’t just building a league; it’s creating an ecosystem where athletes have long-term financial and professional stability.
Alexis Ohanian’s Tech-Infused Vision
Alexis Ohanian brings his Silicon Valley mindset to Athlos. As the founder of venture capital firm Seven Seven Six, Ohanian understands how to scale big ideas.
His investment style focuses on companies that empower individuals, and Athlos fits that mold perfectly.
We can expect Athlos to embrace:
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Tech-driven fan engagement (via apps, NFTs, or streaming innovations)
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Transparent athlete compensation models
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Partnerships with socially conscious brands
With Ohanian’s backing and the athletes’ leadership, Athlos has the funding, vision, and public support to reshape the sports landscape.
What’s Next: Countdown to 2026
- As anticipation builds, 2025 will serve as a bridge year where fans can see incremental changes, such as the addition of the long jump and more refined meet formats.
- Expect to see community outreach initiatives, branding rollouts, and potential media deals taking shape.
- By 2026, Athlos will officially launch its team-based league—ushering in what could be the most exciting era in track and field history.
- The timing of this announcement couldn’t be more relevant. As conversations around equity in sports continue to intensify, Athlos emerges as a concrete solution to many longstanding issues in women’s athletics—especially pay disparity and media representation.
- Athlos also reflects the changing landscape of sports viewership. Modern audiences crave authenticity, diversity, and behind-the-scenes access.
- With athlete-owners who are active on social media and already have massive fanbases, Athlos is positioned to bridge the gap between traditional track and Gen Z fans.
- Moreover, by focusing exclusively on women, Athlos directly addresses the historical underfunding of female athletics. It’s a bold but necessary move, and one that could catalyze broader industry changes.
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