Make room, Broadway, there’s a different kind of show opening on the street that’s sure to be a spectacle.
For one evening only, the women’s long jump will take center stage during a competition organized in the heart of bustling Times Square. It’s all part of the storyline of Athlos, a women’s-only athletics series, to shine the brightest lights. about sports.
Act I opens Thursday with the reigning world and Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall leading an all-star cast in a unique long jump competition set in one of New York’s hippest tourist destinations.
Act II begins Friday when the stage moves to Icahn Stadium, located on Randall’s Island. There will be seven events – including the long jump final – and a field of athletes including Olympic champions. Kipyegon Faith And Masai Russell competing for more than $773,000 in prize money. Additionally, a silver crown from Tiffany & Co. is awarded to all winners.
Act III opens next season as Athlos expands with a team format.
“This is a road map,” Davis-Woodhall said, “to make the track great again.”
Atlos, tower 2
This is the second go-around for the Athlos NYC competition. This time, however, it’s more of a chance to plan.
Last year, Athlos founder Alexis Ohanian – of Reddit fame – and his team had five months to organize an event for women. They still brought together a cast of stars in the wake of the Paris Olympics, invited rapper Megan Thee Stallion to perform and saw more than three million viewers tune in to their platforms.
Ohanian approached this season with one overriding thought: How do we take the event to the next level?
He and his team thought and thought, without any ideas being too far-fetched.
“We wanted to create something that could elevate sports’ biggest stars in a format that was just as professional, real and legitimate, but also brought a different type of entertainment value,” Ohanian explained.
Hence the Times Square long jump competition, which will take place in front of Sephora and Disney stores. Even though it was a long season, Davis-Woodhall wasn’t going to miss this event taking place in the world’s center of entertainment and theater.
“I’ve been coming to New York since I was 16, and the first time I walked into Times Square, I was like, ‘I want my face on the billboards,'” Davis-Woodhall said. “Having a full moment of when I was a kid and dreaming of that moment, it’s quite surreal and quite emotional.”
Turn up the volume
On Friday, the event turns up the volume, with more live music and more storytelling. They have a DJ playing music between race programs, which include the 100, 200, 400, 800, mile and 100 hurdles. Some of the names in the starting blocks are Paris 2024 Olympic champions: Kipyegon (1,500), Marileidy Paulino (400), Keely Hodgkinson (800) and Russell (100 hurdles).
Salary ranges from $60,000 for first place to $2,500 for sixth. Additionally, Atlos awards 10% of revenue to athletes.
Break a world record? This represents an additional bonus of $250,000. In most cases, the money will be instantly deposited into their bank account via Cash App.
Big names are watching
There will be some big names watching from the sidelines, including sprinters Sha’Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who is coming off three gold medals at the world championships last month in Tokyo. There will also be a tribute to Jamaican great Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who is get off the track.
After all the fireworks and fast times, singer Ciara will take the stage.
“We want these athletes to be at the forefront, building their brand and spreading the word about the sport,” said Ohanian, who is married to tennis great Serena Williams. “I’m not under any illusions that we’re going to be the ones responsible for organizing (athletics). But I think we have an incredible opportunity here.”
Big projects
His latest attempt comes after Michael Johnson’s failed attempt to turn the track into a Grand Slam Track league. Johnson’s company got athletes to change their 2025 schedule so they could compete in all four league events, which turned out to be only three after the The last meeting in Los Angeles was canceled. Some winners were not paid.
“We started Athlos knowing it was a big, open space,” Ohanian said. “That didn’t mean our role was to save the sport. Not at all. It meant we had the opportunity to build alongside the existing institution.
“I have so much optimism, so much confidence in what we are building here in Athlos.”
He hopes to have even bigger opportunities between now and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Perhaps hosting women-only events across the country — or even around the world.
“There is no finish line in this race,” Ohanian said. “It’s just relentless improvement and execution.”
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