When Alexis Ohanian unveiled Athlos NYC last year, it wasn’t just about reimagining track and field, it was about heart, storytelling, and redefining what it means to be a fan of the sport.
And at the center of that story was a moment of raw vulnerability that connected Ohanian to one of track’s most electrifying athletes including Sha’Carri Richardson.
Back in 2021, the world was watching as Richardson scorched the track at the U.S. Olympic Trials, securing her place at the Tokyo Games. But what should have been the launch of an Olympic fairytale quickly turned into heartbreak.
A failed marijuana test meant a suspension and no Olympics. In the aftermath, Richardson revealed she had turned to cannabis while grieving the death of her biological mother, just days before the race.
It was a moment that struck a chord with Ohanian.
“I felt like, wow, I can really empathize with this person,” Ohanian later shared.
Having lost his own mother during Reddit’s early days, the connection was immediate. From that day on, Ohanian quietly became one of Richardson’s most steadfast supporters.
Fast forward to 2025, and the narrative is taking another compelling turn.
On May 28, Ohanian stirred the track world with a post on X (formerly Twitter), resharing Richardson’s iconic words:
“I’m ready. Mentally, physically and emotionally. And I’m here to stay. I’m not back. I’m better.”
His caption read cryptically: “It’s been too long since we broke the internet with @ATHLOS news. WYD tomorrow?”
At the same time, the official Athlos NYC account teased: “Don’t blink or you’ll miss it.”
While there’s no official confirmation yet, the signs are impossible to ignore. And if it happens, it would be monumental for Richardson, for Athlos NYC, and for fans who’ve followed both journeys.
Athlos NYC isn’t your typical track meet. Last year’s debut event combined booming pop music, custom Tiffany-designed crowns, substantial prize money, and a headlining performance from Megan Thee Stallion, merging elite competition with a bold, festival-like vibe. Adding Richardson to the lineup wouldn’t just boost star power; it would further solidify the event’s reputation as the most unapologetically modern, personality-driven competition on the calendar.
For Richardson, the timing feels significant too. Her 2025 season opener at the Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo didn’t go as planned. Clocking 11.47 seconds, her slowest time since 2021, she finished fourth behind surprise winner Bree Rizzo of Australia. But as Olympic medalist and training partner Aaron Brown pointed out, it’s too early to panic.
“She’s had times where she’s opened up, and didn’t look like she was up to the task,” Brown told CBS Sports’ Perdita Felicien.
“And then Prefontaine rolls around and she’s winning and blowing her way through. She has a bye to the Worlds, she just needs to be ready in September.”
And maybe, just maybe, the next chapter of that comeback starts now.
Whether or not tomorrow’s announcement confirms what fans are hoping for, it’s clear that Sha’Carri Richardson’s return to Athlos NYC would mean more than just another race.
