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An unhealthy option by Michael Johnson given to some athletes that competed at the inaugural ATHLOS meet in New York didn't sit well with ATHLOS founder Alexis Ohanian.
Following the successful completion of the inaugural ATHLOS track meet, founder Alexis Ohanian has called out Olympic legend Michael Johnson on the disappointing option given to some participants at his event in New York, who still intend to participate at the Grand Slam Track next season.
Ohanian expressed his displeasure on his X page, by calling out Johnson after the ATHLOS meet in New York.
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"hey @MJGold I loved seeing you + @BillAckman fast follow @ATHLOS by launching @GrandSlamTrack (great to see more people investing in athletics!), but it's disappointing you're requiring these women to get permission from you & Bill in order to compete in other leagues. It's not very athlete-friendly.
"You're an Olympic legend and I hope you'll reconsider. It's so much better for the sport to give these women more options and not fewer — especially while it's still so under-invested-in," wrote Ohanian.
The inaugural ATHLOS track meet which took place on September 26 at the Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island in New York City, was a one-night-only event and had some of the fastest women in the world including Olympic champions and World Record holders meet for a track showdown unlike any other.
Offering the largest-ever purse for any women-only competition, it is sponsored by Ohanian- cofounder of Reddit and husband to tennis legend Serena Williams. The women-only competition modernized the sport by combining "competition with entertainment, including a performance by top musician Megan Thee Stallion after the last race, and drew “near-universal praise” from participants and fans globally.
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With six races lined up, the 100mH, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m, saw each race winner take home $60,000, second-place earners $25,000, and third place claiming $10,000, with $8,000 for fourth, $5,000 for fifth, and $2,500 for sixth place.
22:39 - 28.09.2024
ATHLOS highest earner Brittany Brown takes on Diamond League organisers for poor winning earnings
Olympic bronze medallist and ATHLOS standout sprinter Brittany Brown wants Diamond League organisers to invest more in prize earnings for athletes.
Meanwhile, the Grand Slam Track spearheaded by Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and eight-time world champion, will debut from April - September 2025, kicking off with four meets, also known as 'Slams' with $12.6 million available in prize money.
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Both ATHLOS and Grand Slam Track are aimed at promoting athletics by bringing more media coverage and improving the winning prize monies of athletes at major meets.
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