Athlos adds London leg, targeting ‘F1 for track and field’
London will host a star‑studded all‑female Athlos athletics meeting on 18 September 2026, a key step in founder Alexis Ohanian's vision of an “F1 for track and field”.
London to host the inaugural Athlos all‑female meet
The competition will be staged at StoneX Stadium in Barnet, a 10,500‑seat venue also used by Saracens rugby and the Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers. Top athletes such as 2023 100 m world champion Sha’Carri Richardson and Paris Olympic 200 m gold medallist Gabby Thomas are confirmed participants.
- Date: 18 September 2026
- Venue: StoneX Stadium, London
- Key athletes: Sha’Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas, others
Prize money and equity model: $2.1 m pot and athlete stakes
Athlos offers a total prize pool of $2.1 m (£1.5 m). Winners of individual events can earn up to $65,000, with an extra $25,000 for overall champions, meaning a dual‑city victor could pocket $155,000. In addition, competing athletes receive equity in the league, aligning their financial upside with the competition’s success.
- Prize pool: $2.1 m
- Individual event win: $65,000
- Overall champion bonus: $25,000
- Potential total earnings per athlete (both cities): $155,000
Potential shake‑up for athletics commercial landscape
Owned by Ohanian’s venture‑capital firm Seven Seven Six (assets of $900 m (£670 m)), Athlos introduces a commercial model rarely seen in track and field. By granting athletes equity and delivering high‑visibility events in global cities, the league aims to overcome the sport’s historic lack of profitability, contrasting with past failed attempts such as Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track series.
What the next season could look like for Athlos
Ohanian envisions a season‑long, worldwide league with additional host cities beyond London and New York. Ongoing discussions with World Athletics and “great partners” suggest possible integration with the sport’s governing body, paving the way for a truly global athletics circuit.