Keely Hodgkinson Triumphs in Speed Suit at Inaugural Athlos London Event
British athlete Keely Hodgkinson wins the 800m race in a custom aerodynamic suit at the all-female Athlos meet, which also featured American stars Gabby Thomas and Sha'Carri Richardson.
Keely Hodgkinson christened Athlos's London debut with a commanding victory in the 800m, showcasing a custom-designed, full-body speed suit. The event, held at StoneX Stadium, marked the first time Athlos, an athletics meet founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, has staged an event outside of New York.
Hodgkinson crossed the finish line in one minute 56.40 seconds, securing a win in front of a sold-out home crowd. The all-black aerodynamic suit, a collaboration with Nike, was designed to reduce drag. "This is a project we have been working on with Nike for a long time. We thought: What a perfect place to bring it out, speed meeting style, all women's event. It went down a treat," Hodgkinson stated.
The Athlos meet awarded winners a Tiffany & Co crown and a top prize of $65,000 (£48,500) per event, contributing to a total prize pot of $1.05 million (£790,500). The single-night competition featured seven disciplines with six athletes each.
American sprinters Gabby Thomas and Sha'Carri Richardson were among the other champions at the event, which featured a party atmosphere with a live track-side DJ. Athletes arrived on a red carpet, and the event aimed to bring increased attention to female athletes outside of major championships.
Hodgkinson's speed suit included an open back, a hood with a ponytail opening, and 3D-printed details to minimize drag. This victory marked her first since the London Diamond League in July, concluding a year that saw both record-breaking achievements and injury setbacks. Despite a fall and a recurrence of a hamstring injury, she had improved her British record and finished second in other major events earlier in the season.
Other notable results included American Sha'Carri Richardson winning the 100m in 10.80 seconds and Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas winning the 200m in 22.13 seconds. Dominican Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino won the 400m, and American athletes Alaysha Johnson and Alyssa Jones secured victories in the 100m hurdles and long jump, respectively.
Founder Alexis Ohanian envisions Athlos growing into a global, season-long league. While a planned two-day event in New York was canceled, Ohanian aims to integrate Athlos into the global athletics calendar starting next year. The league offers competing athletes equity, a model Ohanian has used with other sports ventures, including Angel City FC and Chelsea FC.
The event's unique atmosphere, blending sport with showmanship, was noted by attendees, who described it as a departure from traditional meets. Athletes expressed feeling valued and enjoyed the spotlight, with some participating in London Fashion Week activities following the competition. Ohanian stated that the initial focus on female athletes was a business decision, with potential expansion to include men's events by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.