Gabby Thomas Launches New Track League With Alexis Ohanian

Olympian Gabby Thomas has co-founded a new professional track and field league named Athlos, aiming to bring structure and professionalization to a sport often characterized by its disorganization. Thomas discussed this new venture on an episode of Bloomberg's "The Deal," where she spoke with hosts Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly. The league's creation signifies a significant effort to elevate track and field beyond its traditional event-based structure, potentially offering athletes more consistent opportunities and a clearer career path. Athlos is being developed in partnership with Alexis Ohanian, a prominent entrepreneur and co-founder of Reddit, who has a history of investing in and building sports ventures. The initiative seeks to address perceived gaps in the current track and field landscape, which often relies on individual event organizers and sporadic major competitions. By establishing a league, Athlos intends to create a more cohesive and commercially viable ecosystem for athletes, fans, and sponsors. The specifics of Athlos's operational model, including its competition format, revenue streams, and athlete compensation structures, are expected to be detailed as the league progresses towards its launch. The involvement of Gabby Thomas, a decorated Olympian and a prominent figure in the sport, lends significant credibility and visibility to the new league. Her perspective as an active athlete likely informs the league's design, with a focus on athlete well-being, fair competition, and enhanced fan engagement. Alexis Ohanian's participation brings entrepreneurial expertise and access to capital, crucial for building a new professional sports entity. Ohanian has previously been involved with ventures like the women's soccer team Angel City FC, demonstrating his commitment to developing professional sports leagues. The launch of Athlos comes at a time when there is growing interest in diversifying professional sports offerings and exploring new models for athlete development and competition. The league's success could serve as a blueprint for other sports seeking to professionalize and expand their reach. The full interview with Gabby Thomas on "The Deal" is available on podcast platforms, offering further insights into her vision for Athlos and the future of track and field. This development represents a notable attempt to modernize and capitalize on the global appeal of track and field, potentially reshaping how athletes compete and how the sport is consumed by audiences worldwide.