Olympian Alaysha Johnson Has Always Taken The Road Less Traveled. Here's Why.

Forbes

20-03-2025

Alaysha Johnson during athletics Wanda Diamond League meeting in Chorzow, Poland on 25 August, 2024 ... More (Photo by Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
As a designer and modifier of track and field uniforms, Alaysha Johnson sometimes flies by the seat of her pants.
Take her U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials outfit, for instance. You know, the one that looked like it was on the verge of a wardrobe malfunction in the women's 100 meter hurdle final.
'It was very stretchy,' she said recently of the piece she modified from HMN ALNS, a black-owned brand by Philip Mims. 'There was some boobage going on. Everyone was afraid of the nip slip.'
But you know what? It worked. She created a 'skin like mesh' to bridge two fabrics together. Johnson, who has always made decisions on her own terms, finished second in the final, booking her trip to the Paris Olympics (with borrowed spikes, mind you) in a time that went down as the third-fastest in the world over 2024.
No catastrophes to speak of.
'I was all secure,' the 28-year-old Spring, Texas native said. 'I did a lot of security checks.'
The moment encapsulated pretty much everything there is to say about Johnson, who went on to reach the Olympic final in Paris where she finished seventh. She's never prescribed conformity in a sport that often presents itself in a sterilized manner – a mass grab of Nike and Adidas jerseys across any championship line.
'I truly think I'm one of the biggest commodities in track and field,' she said. 'I'm not afraid to do things a different way.'
Over the next few years, Johnson believes her decision-making could be the difference between a career and a legacy. 'For me, it's time to capitalize off of who I am and what I do,' said Johnson, who trains out of Houston. 'It's not just about saying, 'I'm a track and field athlete.' I'm someone who travels the world and I get paid. Let's make this as profitable as it can be.'
She says she wants to be known as the 'Angel Reese' – the former LSU women's basketball star – of the track and field world.
EUGENE, OR - JUNE 30: Alaysha Johnson of More Sports MG and Masai Russell of Nike compete in the ... More final of the Womens 100M Hurdles at Hayward Field on June 30, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Melinda Meijer/)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 26: Alaysha Johnson of the United States arrives at the Athlos NYC at ... More Icahn Stadium on September 26, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Athlos/Getty Images for Athlos)
That type of thinking has allowed Johnson, who has 144,000 followers on Instagram, to do things few other track and field athletes are daring to do otherwise. Like going to Paris Fashion week in March. Or opting against the Millrose Games in February in favor of New York Fashion Week.
Or being largely sponsorless.
Johnson is at a stage in her career, she says, where balancing a career beyond the track is becoming as important as the one on the oval.
'It takes people too long to figure out what they want to do and what they're interested in,' Johnson said. 'And then they scramble and the money isn't what it is. And when it's done, it's done.'
Johnson had a standout career at Oregon. She won a Pac-12 title in 2017 over the 100 meter hurdles and set a school record in 12.69 seconds. She was part of seven All-American finishes.
In the year after her tenure with the Ducks, she trained with esteemed hurdles coach Boogie Johnson – who was then at Cal State Northridge – and then followed with a post-graduate year at Texas Tech, where she performed at a high level again. Perhaps more important than anything she did on the track, though, was what she walked away with: A business certificate from Cal State Northridge and a masters degree in sports management from Texas Tech.
'I've always understood my value as part of the market,' she said.
It's one reason why Johnson, who ran sparingly in 2020 and 2021 before reemerging better than ever, has never signed with a major shoe brand, despite it being the typical pathway to a consistent paycheck. Instead, Johnson inked a deal with Oakley and has held a smaller contract with Savage X Fenti by Rihanna, which was a six-month deal that dealt in straight apparel. She's also done a collaboration with British supermodel Leomie Anderson.
'My first track meet, I wore black bottoms and a black top,' she said. 'I knew coming into it, there was going to be no free promo.'
EUGENE, OR - JULY 29: Alaysha Johnson of More Sports MG competes in the semi-finals of the Womens ... More 100M Hurdles at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials at Hayward Field on July 29, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Melinda Meijer/)
This is all despite the fact that Johnson has now been one of the world's top short hurdlers for three straight years, with performances under 12.4 seconds across the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons. She is unquestionably one of the world's best.
Typically, world-leading times net paychecks.
But Johnson is holding out. 'When they are ready, we can have a conversation,' she says of contract negotiations. You can maybe thank her grandmother for that. She was the first person to teach Johnson how to sow – and perhaps to believe in herself. Johnson carries a Brother Sewing Machine with her on every trip she goes on. And she likes to tinker on most uniforms, she says.
'I didn't realize sowing was a talent or skill at that time,' she said. 'but it was something I was really able to push and make a niche and something I can capitalize on.'
As a result, Johnson has created plenty of storylines on the line. She's only designed two completely uniforms out of scratch, but her pieces always tend to attract eyeballs – from hot pink one-pieces to cheetah print. She says she takes inspiration from Law Roach, a noted designer from Chicago. One example was a de-constructed Diesel piece she made. At the women's-only track meet by Athlos in September, Johnson came out with a washed-denim look – oh yeah, and she also finished second in the 100 meter hurdle race, winning $25,000 for her efforts.
'Anyone who knows me, I'm one of the biggest risk takers,' she said. 'I'm going to go for it.'
This year could be one of Johnson's biggest yet. She skipped the indoor season for the first time in three years, saying she's instead going to open her season in China in April.
Johnson's biggest remaining goal on her bucket list is to medal on the international stage. She is eyeing up the World Championships in Tokyo this year, then the LA Olympics in 2028.
She says she wants to continue building on her ambitions in fashion. Her ultimate hope is to sign with a major fashion house, perhaps sooner rather than later.
'I want to bring a whole new audience to track and field,' she said.
So far, Johnson is not confirmed for the Grand Slam Track League, the four-part meet series which will offer up some serious prize money. But all across the sport, pay-scales are also rising within the Diamond League and World Athletics. Opportunities will be everywhere over the next few years.
Johnson knows she needs to capitalize. But success may not be fully defined by what she does on the track, either.
'I have four years, maybe five if I push it,' she said. 'Then what's next?'