In a sport where prize money has historically been scarce and recognition only coming through major televised events, three Olympic champions are stepping forward to help change everything. Sha’Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas, and Tara Davis-Woodhall aren’t just lending their names to ATHLOS—they’re becoming the driving force behind a movement they hope promises to transform women’s track and field forever.
A New Era of Athlete Ownership
What began as Alexis Ohanian’s vision for an all-women’s track and field meet has evolved into something far more powerful. The inaugural ATHLOS event showcased what was possible with proper investment in women’s athletics—historic prize money, world-class entertainment, and eight Olympic champions competing at the highest level. But 2026 will mark the true beginning of something unprecedented: a team-based, athlete-led league where the competitors themselves hold the keys to their sport’s future.
This isn’t just about creating another competition. It’s about athletes taking control of their own narrative, their own earnings, and their own sport’s trajectory. Richardson, Thomas, and Davis-Woodhall aren’t merely faces of this revolution—they’re the architects of it.
The Perfect Mashup Of Leadership
Each of these three women brings something irreplaceable to the table, creating a leadership dynamic that feels almost too perfect to be coincidental.
Sha’Carri Richardson embodies the fearless spirit that ATHLOS needs to challenge the status quo. Her famous declaration—”I’m not back, I’m better”—captures the essence of what this league represents. Richardson has never shied away from difficult conversations about the state of track and field, using her platform to address the sport’s systemic issues head-on. Her willingness to speak truth to power, combined with her electrifying presence on the track, makes her the ideal catalyst for change.
Richardson’s journey from setback to Olympic champion mirrors the transformation ATHLOS hopes to achieve for women’s track and field. Her commitment to continuous improvement, both personally and professionally, aligns perfectly with Ohanian’s vision of a league that refuses to settle for the status quo.
Gabby Thomas brings a different but equally valuable perspective. As one of the most versatile sprinters in the sport’s history, she understands the complexities of elite competition. But her impact extends far beyond her athletic achievements. Thomas has positioned herself at the forefront of the broader women’s sports revolution, joining the Women’s Sports Foundation Board of Trustees and supporting ventures like Unrivaled and League One Volleyball.
Her strategic mind and advocacy experience will be crucial as ATHLOS navigates the challenges of building a sustainable league. Thomas doesn’t just compete in women’s sports—she actively invests in their future, making her ownership role feel like a natural evolution of her career mission.
Tara Davis-Woodhall completes this triumvirate with her infectious energy and natural ability to connect with audiences. The Olympic long jump champion possesses that rare combination of fierce competitiveness and genuine warmth that draws people in. Her introduction of field events to the league demonstrates her commitment to expanding opportunities for all women in track and field, not just those in her own disciplines.
Davis-Woodhall’s gift for creating welcoming environments while maintaining competitive excellence will be essential for building the strong fan base that ATHLOS needs for long-term success. She understands that great competition is only half the equation—the other half is making people care about the outcome.
More Than Ownership: A Cultural Shift
What makes this ownership structure revolutionary isn’t just that athletes own a piece of the league—it’s that these particular athletes understand that ATHLOS represents something bigger than individual success. They’re not just competing for prize money or personal glory; they’re competing for the future of their sport.
This ownership model addresses one of track and field’s most persistent problems: the disconnect between what athletes need and what organizers provide. Who better to understand the athlete experience than athletes themselves? Who better to know what fans want to see than competitors who have felt the energy of a crowd willing them to greatness?
Richardson, Thomas, and Davis-Woodhall bring credibility that no external ownership group could match. When they speak about the league’s vision, other athletes listen. When they make decisions about competition formats or prize structures, those decisions carry the weight of lived experience.
The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
ATHLOS arrives at a critical moment for women’s sports. The success of leagues like the WNBA, NWSL, and others has proven that there’s an audience hungry for high-level women’s competition. But track and field faces unique challenges—it’s an individual sport trying to create team-based entertainment, a global sport trying to build consistent local audiences, and a sport with incredible athletic achievements that sometimes struggles to translate those achievements into compelling narratives.
The 2026 launch of the team-based league format will be the ultimate test of whether ATHLOS can overcome these challenges. The involvement of Richardson, Thomas, and Davis-Woodhall as owner-advisors significantly increases the odds of success. They understand the sport’s challenges because they’ve lived them. They understand the sport’s potential because they’ve helped realize it on the world’s biggest stages.
A Blueprint for the Future
If ATHLOS succeeds, it won’t just transform women’s track and field—it will provide a blueprint for athlete-owned leagues across all sports. The model of superstar athletes taking ownership stakes in their own competitions could revolutionize how we think about professional sports ownership.
But success isn’t guaranteed. Building a sustainable league requires more than star power and good intentions. It requires sound business strategy, consistent fan engagement, and the ability to adapt when things don’t go according to plan.
Fortunately, Richardson, Thomas, and Davis-Woodhall have all proven their ability to perform under pressure and overcome adversity. These are women who have faced down the biggest stages in sports and delivered when it mattered most. Now they’re applying those same skills to building something that could outlast their competitive careers.
The Revolution Starts Now
ATHLOS represents more than a new competition—it’s a statement about who gets to control women’s sports and how those sports are presented to the world. By putting athletes in ownership positions, the league is betting that the people who understand the sport best are also the ones best equipped to grow it.
Richardson, Thomas, and Davis-Woodhall aren’t just perfect for this moment—they’re the ones who helped create it. Their achievements on the track earned them the platform, but their vision off the track will determine whether that platform becomes the foundation for lasting change.
The revolution in women’s track and field has officially begun. And for the first time, the athletes themselves are the ones leading the charge.