When Reddit co-founder Alex Ohanian launched the all-women’s track event Athlos, it promised to redefine the game for female athletes. But Ohanian wasn’t content with just sprinting; he envisioned a full showcase of talent. To bring this vision to life, he reached out to Olympian Tara Davis-Woodhall. Yet she set a bold condition: no field events, no participation. Unfazed, Ohanian expanded Athlos to include the field, and now, as the event debuts, Tara Davis-Woodhall is ready to step onto the stage, but she has a confession to make first.

Davis-Woodhall didn’t just become one of Athlos’ standout faces; she also earned a seat at the table, teaming up with sprint sensation Sha’Carri Richardson to help shape the league’s future. Recently, Athlos’ official Instagram handle shared a post featuring Tara Davis-Woodhall, during which the athlete made a candid confession. “Field never gets the love. For field events to be out here, it’s like we’re on top. I’ve always wanted to change the sport. I’ve always wanted to change the game of the long jump,” said the Athlete.

She further added, “Bringing long jump to the middle of Times Square, the middle of New York City, I feel like that’s changing the game. What fans should expect when they come to watch me in the middle of Times Square is entertainment, pure, pure entertainment. I feel like tourists are here to look at something, to be entertained. And so, why not me? I’ll be your entertainer for the night.”

The Athlos website dubs the event a “music festival meets track and field meet,” and the description fits perfectly. Unlike traditional meets, music fills the air between races, and athletes have their own walk-out songs. This year, Ciara will deliver a live performance, creating a spectacle tailor-made for Davis-Woodhall’s dynamic style. Adding the field events to their second meet was a brilliant move by the Athlos administration. As Davis-Woodhall said, “I mean, this is it. This is it right here—showing up in Times Square and long jumping in front of eyes that probably would never even glance at a long jump.”

Last but not least, Tara Davis-Woodhall had a message for all the fans, “Come see me on October 9th in the middle of Times Square, along with other long jumpers. We’re gonna have fun. We’re gonna put on a show. And, you know, we get to be surrounded by the lights. We get to be surrounded by the lights.” Well, many might wonder a simple question: what attracted Davis to the Athlos? Let’s have a look at it.

 A phonecall decided Tara Davis Woodhall’s participation in Athlos

Recently, just ahead of the Athlos event at Ichan Stadium, Tara Davis Woodhall sat down for a conversation with NBC. Amid a flurry of questions, one stood out: why did she decide to participate in Athlos? The athlete revealed that it all came down to a simple call from Alex Ohanian, one call that completely changed the course of her plans. “Alexis Ohanian invited Hunter [Woodhall] and I out there, and it was just a sprint only event. And I told Alexis, listen. We’re not coming unless I’m competing,” said the athlete.

She further added, “Some months down the road, he’s calling my phone asking me, ‘Where do you want to see yourself in X amount of years,’ and I told him everything I wanted, and the field has come to life for Athlos. We’ll be jumping the women’s long jump in Times Square on October 9th, which is so insane. This sh*t’s gonna be fun.”

When Athlos kicked off last year, Reddit co-founder Alex Ohanian had one goal in mind: sprinting. The first edition featured six high-octane track events, from the 100m hurdles to the 1500m, leaving long jumps and throwing events out of the spotlight. Now, in 2025, Athlos is shaking things up by introducing the long jump, adding a fresh twist to the competition.