The windfall spurred additional funding. In April, via Seven Seven Six, Ohanian invested within the Portland, Oregon ladies’s sports activities bar The Sports activities Bra, with plans to franchise the idea throughout the nation. This summer time, through the Paris Olympics, he and rapper Taste Flav even helped cowl lease for the American discus thrower Veronica Fraley.
However his largest enterprise within the area is undoubtedly Athlos, the wholly authentic observe competitors that can debut in New York Metropolis on Sept. 26 at Icahn Stadium. The one-night occasion basically reimagines the idea of a observe meet, a results of Ohanian taking a “first ideas” method to the expertise.
In contrast to conventional track-and-field competitions, Athlos will characteristic solely six races—a 100-meter hurdle, in addition to 100-, 200-, 400-, 800-, and 1,500-meter sprints—with six athletes every. The entire athletes will probably be ladies, together with Olympians Gabby Thomas and Alexis Holmes.
The occasion will probably be soundtracked by DJ D-Good, who will spin data between heats and soundtrack every athlete with a walk-out tune. On the finish of the evening, rapper Megan Thee Stallion will carry out.
The purse at stake may also dwarf what observe athletes sometimes stand to make from single occasions. Each runner in each race will take dwelling prize cash, starting from $2,500 for sixth place to $60,000 for first. Sponsors for the inaugural Athlos embrace Tiffany & Co., which is able to present winners with customized crowns, in addition to Strava, Therabody, and Bandit.
The occasion is audacious in its ambition. In contrast to ladies’s soccer or basketball, which have in style males’s precedents, observe has little mindshare within the American conscience, no matter gender. Ohanian will not be attempting to make in style a feminine model of a traditionally male sport; he’s attempting to place observe on the map, interval.
