Gabby Thomas makes her feelings known about Athlos NYC's rival Grand Slam Track

Gabby Thomas voiced her thoughts on Athlos NYC’s rival Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track. Notably, the Grand Slam Track will host four track meets in 2025 where signed racers will compete against challengers in two different events.

Thomas participated in Athlos NYC, launched by Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian in April 2024, with the event officially kicking off on September 26. The event aimed to promote the growth of the sport, especially for female athletes, being inaugurated as an all-women's exclusive track meet. The winners of the six featured events - 100m, 100m hurdles, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m - each received a $60,000 prize.

Following the launch of the Athlos NYC, four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson introduced a new track league for the development of the Athletics sport, naming it the Grand Slam Track. The league will be offering a huge cash prize of US$100,000 to the winner of each category.

Recently, in an interaction with host Owen Poindexter via Front Office Sports, Gabby Thomas was asked about the new innovations in the sport. The 27-year-old said (22:25 onwards):

“I mean Athlos NYC was clearly great one event but much more to come. Down the line, Grand Slam track league is another league that is in the works right now, which I think is really exciting and good for the sport. Any time you can have a league or a situation where athletes are committed to competing, I think that will definitely grow the sport forward.”

She also spoke about the upcoming Duael competition, an elimination-style tournament set to take place next year, which may include sprinter Noah Lyles and professional athletes like NFL player Tyreek Hill.

“I know there's another one in the lead, in the works right now called Duael, I saw something about Noah and Tyreek Hill racing on there. So, I think that's something that will also drive attention to the sport which is really, really cool,” she added.

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“We were valued as the main product”- Gabby Thomas on how she felt after racing at Athlos NYC

Gabby Thomas during Athlos NYC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Athlos/Getty Images for Athlos)

Gabby Thomas reflected on how the Athlos NYC was an ideal track event, with performances by Megan Thee Stallion, and the athletes having the opportunity to share their stories. During the same interaction with Front Office Sports, she said (starting at 21:16):

“I think what really set Athlos apart was what an amazing job the event was just as a production. I mean it was such a fun and entertaining event and that's kind of what sports is for. It's for entertainment and I think sometimes in track and field, we can lose sight of that.

"We have people running the sport who just do it the same way every time and you throw these meets and it's only for you know like the niche track fans who really just know who the athletes are and have spent so many hours of their time researching us, but no Athlos really gave us the ability to tell our stories... We really felt like they wanted us there and we were valued as the main product.”

In the inaugural edition of the Athlos NYC, Gabby Thomas clocked a time of 22.21s but was narrowly defeated by Olympic bronze medalist Brittany Brown, who finished the race in 22.18s.