“This is gonna be fun,” said Olympic gold medalist Tara Davis-Woodhall when asked why she decided to join Alexis Ohanian’s Athlos, not just as an athlete, but also as a member of its advisory board. The announcement sent ripples through the track and field world. Why would Davis-Woodhall, who has built her legacy on the track, step into an untested league created by the Reddit co-founder? That’s where the twist comes in. Davis-Woodhall didn’t just sign up; she laid down her own condition. And Ohanian was quick to meet it.

The result? 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, Tara sat down with NBC for a candid chat, tackling fans’ burning questions—one of which zeroed in on her decision to join the Athlos team.

“Alexis Ohanian invited Hunter and I out there, and it was just a sprint-only event. I told Alexis, ‘Listen, we’re not coming unless I’m competing,’ and he was like, ‘Got it, Imma work something up,” she revealed.

She 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 was launched last year, Reddit co-founder Alex Ohanian had one thing in mind: sprinting. The inaugural meet featured six electrifying track events, from the 100m hurdles to the 1500m, while long jumps and throws were nowhere on the agenda. Fast forward to 2025, and Athlos is breaking the mold by adding the long jump to its lineup. The action kicks off October 9 in the heart of Times Square, with the finals set for October 10 at Icahn Stadium.When Ohania learned of Tara Davis-Woodhall’ condition before joining, he knew he “had to make it happen.”

Whether it’s Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track or Alex Ohanian’s Athlos, both have placed big bets on track and field. While Athlos has rapidly expanded to encompass the full spectrum of events, Johnson’s venture continues to struggle amid an ongoing payment crisis. Adding star power to Athlos, Tara joins the advisory team alongside Sha’Carri Richardson and Gabby Thomas, rightfully earning their place as the founding advisors shaping the league from the ground up.

Be it the Athlos or the Grand Slam Track, both of them are trying to solve a single problem that exists in the track and field world: Underpayment. And Tara Davis-Woodhall is someone who has been raising her voice against it for years now.

Tara Davis-Woodhall raises her voice over the payment issue between sports

Track and field athletes train just as hard, yet what keeps them from earning big paychecks? This question is sparking debate across the sports world. Recently, Olympic gold medalist Tara Davis-Woodhall highlighted the staggering pay gap between athletes. While 100m world champion Oblique Seville earned $70,000, tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz took home $5 million at the US Open, and boxing superstar Canelo Álvarez reportedly pocketed a jaw-dropping $150 million for a single fight. Davis-Woodhall shared a story by WipeTheLine, which highlighted the same thing on her Instagram handle.

Prize money in track and field is spread thin among competitors, leaving many athletes reliant on sponsorships. In fact, adjusted for inflation, today’s gold medals pay less than a decade ago, highlighting the sport’s persistent financial gap. Without sponsorships, most athletes would struggle to make ends meet.

Olympic medalist and analyst Rori Dunk points out the stark reality: in 2015, a gold medal paid $60,000; today it’s $70,000. Accounting for inflation, it should be $81,778—meaning modern champions are actually earning less in real terms.

With the vast disparity in payment structures, Athlos and Grand Slam Track have stepped up to address the issue. However, whether they can truly make a difference remains to be seen.