By Amy Tennery
NEW YORK (Reuters) -American fan favourite Sha’Carri Richardson is signing on to become an owner-advisor for Athlos, as the women-focused athletics startup moves to a multi-meet, team-based format beginning in 2026.
The brainchild of Reddit co-founder and women’s sports investor Alexis Ohanian, Athlos launched as a standalone meet in New York last year, harnessing the popularity of track’s female medallists following the Paris Games.
Following its successful inaugural edition, Athlos adds a field event in 2025, with Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall to headline the long jump, and plans to expand and host meets in multiple cities in 2026.
Davis-Woodhall is also signing on as an owner-advisor, along with Richardson’s 4×100 metres relay teammate in Paris, three-times gold medallist Gabby Thomas, who previously competed in Athlos’ inaugural 2024 meet.
“Thinking about it as a startup – as it is – you obviously bring in the best. You bring in the best advisors. You bring the best team. And for us, the best were these three athletes,” Kayla Green, the CMO at Athlos, told Reuters.
Athlos said the number of meets in 2026 is yet to be determined but that they will take place after the conclusion of the World Athletics season.
Richardson, whose legion of fans have stuck by her through the ups and downs of her Olympic career, brings fresh starpower to the novel organisation that lured in top names with its athletes-first approach and supersized prize money.
“I am just so thrilled that we have someone at the calibre of Sha’Carri helping to advise us on the path forward. We are thrilled that she is mission- and vision-aligned with what we are looking for as far as the future of this sport,” said Green.
Athlos’ expansion to a multi-meet format comes amid a rush of new events in athletics, with Grand Slam Track hosting its inaugural season this year and World Athletics hosting its first “Ultimate Championship” in 2026.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New YorkEditing by Christian Radnedge)
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