Keely Hodgkinson powered to victory in a custom-made full-body speed suit before being presented with a Tiffany & Co crown as Athlos made its London debut. The 24-year-old ensured she ended a mixed year with a dominant 800m victory in front of a sellout home crowd at StoneX Stadium, bursting clear on the back straight and crossing the line in one minute 56.40 seconds. Hodgkinson was greeted by loud cheers as she emerged on to a stage and revealed the all-black aerodynamic outfit at the third staging of the all-female athletics meet, an event designed to elevate women’s sports through innovative presentation and significant prize money.
Hodgkinson’s Dominant Display and the Future of Athletic Apparel
Speaking about the groundbreaking outfit, Hodgkinson told BBC Sport: "This has been like a year in the making. It’s a mixture of fashion and speed and science all coming together for maybe the future of athletics." The suit, a testament to cutting-edge design, featured an open back and a hood with a ponytail opening, a detail Hodgkinson deemed non-negotiable. Advanced 3D-printed nodes strategically placed to reduce drag were a key component of its aerodynamic efficiency. This innovative design, reminiscent of Cathy Freeman’s iconic Olympic attire in 2000, signifies a potential shift in athletic apparel, blending high fashion with performance-enhancing technology.
"It was a real honour for them to choose me to put this out first," Hodgkinson continued. "We weren’t sure when we were going to wear it. But an all-women’s event that’s all about the glitz and the glamour and putting eyes on women, a bit of a moment, I think was the perfect way to finish the season." The athlete’s sentiment underscores the event’s ethos of celebrating female athletes and providing a platform for them to express their individuality alongside their athletic prowess.
Athlos: A Vision for Women’s Athletics
Athlos, an initiative spearheaded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, husband of tennis legend Serena Williams, aims to redefine the landscape of women’s athletics. This London meet marked its first event outside of New York, signalling its ambition for global reach. The competition distinguished itself not only through its innovative apparel but also through its substantial prize money and unique awards. Winners received a silver Tiffany & Co crown instead of traditional medals, a symbolic gesture of royalty and achievement. The top prize in each event was a significant $65,000 (approximately £48,500), with a total event prize pot of $1.05 million (£790,500) distributed across the seven disciplines.
The single-night meet featured six athletes per discipline, fostering intense competition and ensuring a focused spectacle for the spectators. The atmosphere was electric, amplified by a live track-side DJ, transforming the StoneX Stadium into a vibrant hub of athletic excellence and entertainment.
Hodgkinson’s Season and Resilience
For Keely Hodgkinson, the victory at Athlos served as a triumphant conclusion to a year marked by both remarkable achievements and challenging setbacks. As an Olympic champion, expectations were high following an indoor season where she secured her first world 800m title and shattered a 24-year-old world record. However, a serious fall during a cool-down run in July and a recurrence of a hamstring injury that had previously hampered her progress contributed to a challenging outdoor season. Despite these obstacles, Hodgkinson continued to push boundaries, improving her British record and securing second-place finishes behind emerging Swiss star Audrey Werro at both the European Championships and the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
The Athlos victory, with Swiss athlete Valentina Rosamilia finishing more than two seconds behind, provided Hodgkinson with a much-needed moment of triumph. The image of her dancing on stage with fellow winners, adorned with her Tiffany crown, encapsulated a season of resilience and a powerful comeback.
A Night of Stars and Spectacle
The Athlos event drew a host of international talent, with American sprint stars Gabby Thomas and Sha’Carri Richardson among the notable champions. The athletes arrived on a red carpet in north London, setting a glamorous tone for the evening.
- 100m: Former world champion Sha’Carri Richardson claimed victory in the 100m with a blistering time of 10.80 seconds. British athletes Imani-Lara Lansiquot and Daryll Neita finished fourth and fifth respectively, highlighting the competitive depth of the field.
- 200m: Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas secured the win in the final race of the night, clocking in at 22.13 seconds.
- 400m: Dominican Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino showcased her dominance, overtaking Norway’s Henriette Jaeger to win the 400m in 48.73 seconds.
- 100m Hurdles: American Alaysha Johnson triumphed in the 100m hurdles.
- Long Jump: Another American victor, Alyssa Jones, secured her win in the long jump.
- Mile: In a dramatic finish, training partner Georgia Hunter Bell was narrowly pipped to victory in the mile by Poland’s Klaudia Kazimierska. Kazimierska, who had previously denied Hunter Bell a major title, squeezed past on the inside to win in 4 minutes 19.43 seconds. This close contest left Athlos founder Alexis Ohanian, watching trackside alongside Serena Williams and their children, visibly impressed.
The Athlos Vision: A Global League for Women’s Athletics
Alexis Ohanian’s long-term vision for Athlos is to establish it as a global, season-long league for women’s athletics. The initial plan to expand to a two-day event in 2026 faced adjustments, with the New York meeting scheduled for October 2nd being cancelled after consultation with athletes to accommodate the demands of a lengthy season. Ohanian now aims to integrate Athlos more seamlessly within the existing global athletics calendar, beginning next year. This strategic realignment seeks to address the crowded schedule of major competitions, including the Diamond League, the Olympics, and the World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
The decision to postpone the New York event reflects a commitment to athlete welfare, acknowledging the demanding nature of elite athletics. The withdrawal of athletes like American Masai Russell, who had recently set a new 100m hurdles world record, from the Athlos London event following the Ultimate Championship, underscores the challenge of scheduling and athlete availability in the current sporting landscape.
Addressing Societal Concerns and Athlete Empowerment
Ohanian’s motivation for founding Athlos extends beyond athletic competition. He explicitly stated his desire for the event to shift the focus back onto "actual athletes," particularly in light of recent controversies, such as a widely criticized sports betting company advertisement featuring actress Sydney Sweeney. The Athlos event provided a powerful counter-narrative, showcasing female athletes in a positive and empowering light.
The initiative aims to bridge the perceived gap in attention between the Olympic Games and the rest of the athletic calendar. Ohanian, who also co-founded Angel City FC, a women’s football club, and holds a stake in Chelsea Women’s Super League team, has a proven track record of investing in women’s sports. A unique aspect of Athlos is its offering of equity in the league to participating athletes, providing them with a vested interest in the league’s future success.
"I would have loved to have had this when I was younger," Hodgkinson remarked, emphasizing the inspirational impact of Athlos on aspiring young athletes. While acknowledging criticisms regarding the exclusion of men’s events, Ohanian has framed the initial focus on women as a strategic business decision, with potential for expansion by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Athlos: A Fusion of Sport and Entertainment
The Athlos event in London was conceived as more than just a competition; it was a curated experience. Athletes arrived on bespoke London buses and walked a red carpet, embracing the "showbusiness" aspect of the event. Many athletes expressed their enjoyment of the spotlight and the opportunity to blend their sport with fashion, with some indicating their participation in London Fashion Week events.
Georgia Hunter Bell described feeling "valued" as she navigated the attention from young fans. The atmosphere was lively, with the resident DJ creating an energetic, almost club-like ambiance that seemed to resonate with both athletes and spectators. Testimonials from attendees, including one who had experienced numerous world championships and Olympics but found Athlos uniquely enjoyable, and another who called it "remarkable" and "inspirational," suggest that the event successfully captured its intended audience.
While there will undoubtedly be lessons learned from this inaugural London event, Athlos has demonstrably lived up to its hype, establishing a unique benchmark for the presentation and celebration of women’s athletics. The event’s success in London suggests a promising trajectory for Ohanian’s vision of a more prominent and financially rewarding future for female athletes on the global stage. The fusion of elite athletic performance with innovative presentation and significant investment positions Athlos as a significant force in the evolving world of sports.
