Sha'Carri Richardson To Join ATHLOS League In 2026
Sha'Carri Richardson posing in traditional track start position for new ATHLOS media kit.
Alexis Ohanian's all-women's track and field meet, ATHLOS, is set to make even bigger moves in 2026. The first iteration of the legendary meet featured historical prize money, a performance by Grammy Award-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion, and eight Olympic champions, including Gabby Thomas and Masai Russell.
This year, ATHLOS will return to New York City on October 10th, promising more exciting athletic performances and a more influential cultural movement. In 2026, Ohanian plans to take ATHLOS to even bigger heights, crafting a team-based, athlete-led track and field league with Olympic champions Sha'Carri Richardson, Thomas, and Tara Davis-Woodhall as the founding advisor-owners.
Gabby Thomas, Sha'Carri Richardson, and Tara Davis-Woodhall (left to right) posing for new ATHLOS ... More media kit.
When starting a revolution, it is only fitting that the most recognizable personalities in the community be the faces of the movement. In addition to their easily identifiable personas, these faces must possess genuine leadership qualities and backgrounds to guide the movement in the right direction. This is what makes Richardson, Thomas, and Davis-Woodhall perfect for what ATHLOS hopes to accomplish.
Richardson, known for her daring spirit and difficult-to-beat top-end speed, brings several valuable qualities to the table that will set the ATHLOS league up for success. Notorious for her famous quote, 'I'm not back, I'm better,' Richardson sets the tone and needed mentality for this new venture. Ohanian is extremely vocal on social media about his desire for ATHLOS to continue outdoing itself every time they put on a meet. The world and Olympic champion shows herself to be committed to the same goals on and off the track. Richardson is vocal about her journey to continue bettering herself as a person and athlete, making this partnership an excellent match.
Richardson has also been seen on social media using her platform to address several issues that track and field faces on a frequent basis. Her fiery personality and aspiration to change track and field for the better will be essential when the league begins.
For now, Richardson has only been announced as an advisor-owner for the league. Details on her decision to compete at ATHLOS NYC this October will be released at a later time, according to an ATHLOS representative.
'To be announced/determined. Right now, we are focusing on her path to league ownership and actively participating in the development of track and field,' said a representative from the league. 'She's obviously excited about ATHLOS' impact, and she will be a part of this journey in many ways!'
Gabby Thomas power posing for new ATHLOS media kit.
Joining Richardson will be three-time Olympic champion Thomas. Thomas, proven to be one of the most versatile sprinters in track and field history, holds many talents outside of competition. Besides being known for her elite athletic abilities, Thomas is slowly becoming one of the faces of the overall women's sports revolution. In January this year, the Olympic champion joined the Board of Trustees for the Women's Sports Foundation. Additionally, Thomas has been seen supporting various women's sports ventures, including Unrivaled and League One Volleyball. Becoming the owner of an all-women's sports league seems like a natural progression of steps for Thomas.
Thomas' versatility and advocacy skills will be vital when advising league decisions. Her passion for women's sports will also drive ATHLOS to truly excel in its commitment to being by women, for women.
Tara Davis-Woodhall posing for new ATHLOS media kit.
Lastly, Davis-Woodhall rounds out the legendary group. Davis-Woodhall's involvement with ATHLOS was announced in late April. She was used as the athlete to introduce the addition of field events to the league starting this year.
The Olympic long jump champion is an athlete with a passionate and energetic personality. Known for her light-hearted character, Davis-Woodhall is hard to look away from when she steps on the runway. Her ability to foster a welcoming environment while also standing firm in her competitive nature is what makes her invaluable to the league. Davis-Woodhall's cheerful personality creates an inviting atmosphere that brings together athletes and fans. This skill will help develop a strong fan base for the league, which is essential for ATHLOS' longevity.
Each of these women carries a set of skills that will aid in the development of the league. Ohanian leaves the future of ATHLOS in excellent hands with these three women.
Tara Davis-Woodhall, Sha'Carri Richardson, and Gabby Thomas (left to right) jump posing for new ... More ATHLOS media kit.
With everyone's desire to elevate track and field, there are new suggestions and business ventures that arise every day, each with the hope of becoming the sport's savior. Track and field does not have a central league like the other major sports in the U.S. Instead, athletes can run in many different leagues or one-off meets in order to make money and improve their skills.
Currently, there are several variations of leagues that athletes can participate in, including the Diamond League, Grand Slam Track, American Track League, World Shot Put Series, and soon-to-be ATHLOS, among others. Each of these leagues offers a vastly different product for athletes and fans, making the race to change the sport even more interesting by the day.
The Diamond League was the premier series of competition in the sport for a long time and still holds that title due to its longevity and structure. However, the Diamond League has been criticized for its lack of substantial prize money.
Grand Slam Track offers never-before-seen athlete scoring and a historical payout of $100,000, making the storylines at each meet engaging for new and old fans to watch. Like the Diamond League, Grand Slam Track has also faced criticism, but this is largely due to their decision not to host field events.
ATHLOS was loved by many for its ability to blend culture and sport while offering a large prize purse. However, fans are still left wondering if the league will add more than just the long jump to the field events and if it will implement longer distance races.
Each league has its strengths and areas for improvement, but what is clear is that each is taking the proper steps forward towards crafting a viable future for professional track and field athletes. The Diamond League made the decision last December to raise their prize money. Fans recently applauded Grand Slam for listening to their audience and shifting from a three-day to a two-day meet schedule. ATHLOS had been criticized for not happening more than once a year. Now, they will host multiple meets in 2026 and showcase teams, something that is unfamiliar to track and field on the professional level and has been something fans have been asking for years.
No details have been released on when and how the teams will be chosen. Fans have also been speculating about which cities the league will travel to for competition.
While the Diamond League, Grand Slam Track, and ATHLOS continue to make improvements, other athletes and entities have been coming together to develop their own needed opportunities that these three leagues may not provide for them.
The World Shot Put Series, founded by shot put world record holder Ryan Crouser, is gaining a lot of momentum among field event fans in the sport. Following the removal of the 5k from the Grand Slam Track competition line-up, two-time Olympian Kara Goucher made a light-hearted pass at the league about trying to save the 5k with Boston Marathon champion and two-time Olympian Des Linden. Goucher and Linden are strong advocates in running the community, so if they decided to develop something, it would not be a surprise.
World Athletics president Seb Coe said his goal for LA 2028 was to have professional track and field be one of the most popular sports in America. With these new leagues emerging and developing their paths to innovation, Coe's dream may come true. Although the future of the sport is uncertain, what remains clear is that a complete overhaul of professional track and field is soon to come.
ATHLOS will announce more athletes competing in October over the coming weeks.
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