by RBR Admin
This is our fifth column on the Athlos Meeting, which took place last Thursday, September 26, 2024. Olivia Miller was our summer intern for RunBlogRun for the 2024 Olympic Trials. She also did a daily column remotely on the Paris Olympics. Now that she is back at university, we have asked her to provide us with a column for critical events. You will enjoy her view of the Athlos meeting.
Five Observations from Athlos, by Olivia Miller
September 26 marked the inaugural Athlos all-women’s track meet. This groundbreaking event, founded by entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian and backed by his venture capital firm 776, aimed to revolutionize the landscape of women’s track and field.
Athlos brought together 36 elite female athletes from various countries to compete in six-track events. The 5,000-capacity stadium witnessed competitions in the 100m, 100m hurdles, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m races.
An introduction to track and field
While viewers who frequently watch track and field may have found certain aspects of the broadcast elementary, it opened up the sport to an entirely new audience.
As Athlos is in its formative days, it only has six events, all of which are track. While this may be disappointing to some, it offers a simplified look into the track for those new to the sport. The intervals between races gave viewers a more in-depth look into each individual event. These segments featured athlete profiles, allowing the audience to become better acquainted with the competitors and their backgrounds.
The big names were also part of an effort to attract new people. The broadcast included interviews with celebrities like screenwriter, producer Shonda Rimes, and rapper Flavor Flav. In-person attendees even got to see a performance by rapper Megan Thee Stallion.
A closer look
Athlos showed us a new side of the track. One that was much more personal.
The crowning ceremonies and athlete interviews opened up a side to track and field that the public often doesn’t see. Everything was in the moment. Nothing was polished. Live interviews, especially so soon after a race, bring out a sort of raw emotion.
Athlos capitalized on the 20-minute intervals between races; they featured select athlete profiles. These segments offered viewers a glimpse into the competitors’ lives, chronicling their journeys and acknowledging their triumphs and hardships.
Focus on equal pay
There was an emphasis on the prize money of this meet, as there should be—it was record-breaking. The prize money totaled $110,000 per race, with the winner getting $60,000—that’s double the final winner’s prize of $30,000 in the 2024 Diamond League. In addition, 10% of revenue from ticketing, commercial sponsorship, and broadcast was redistributed to all the competing athletes.
And it wasn’t just track and field. The broadcast featured two-time FIFA World Cup winner Ashlyn Harris, a USWNT equal pay lawsuit plaintiff. She emphasized the importance of partnerships and intelligent investment to uplift all women’s sports.
Uplifting women’s voices
The broadcast included a plethora of women providing expert commentary. Journalist Cari Champion hosted from behind a sleek black desk, introducing races and conducting interviews with sports figures and celebrities.
Lara Overton joined Champion to provide analytical insights on the events. Author and trainer Robin Arzon was down the track, interviewing athletes during the crowning ceremony.
The broadcast was almost exclusively female, except NBC’s Paul Swangard, who commentated alongside 2012 Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross.
This is a rarity, even in women’s sports.
The Spectacle.
The Tiffany crowns, the walkout songs, the sparklers—we’re seeing aspects of other sports sprinkled into track and field like never before. The showmanship was reminiscent of American sports like Major League Baseball and the National Football League.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn even treated us to a victory dance during her crowning ceremony. Athlos has created an environment where female athletes are encouraged to celebrate their achievements.
Very few, if any, women’s sports have attempted anything like this.
As Ashlyn Harris said, “Athlos Gives women’s sports the hype they deserve.”
Indeed, it did.
