Keely Hodgkinson won the 400m at Athlos London in a custom-designed speed suit, marking a milestone in women’s track, but the event, held in north London, was the first outside of New York for the all-female meet organized by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Athlos awarded winners a silver Tiffany crown instead of traditional medals, with a top prize of $65,000 (£48,500) in each event, while the total prize pool was $1.05m (£790,500), distributed across seven disciplines featuring six athletes each.

A Blend of Fashion and Performance

Hodgkinson praised the suit as a year in the making, combining fashion, speed, and science — she called the all-women event a “perfect way to finish the season,” emphasizing its focus on glitz and glamour. The suit, inspired by Cathy Freeman’s Olympic gold-winning look in 2000, featured an open back, a hood with a ponytail opening, and 3D-printed nodes that reduced drag. She wore dark sunglasses and Nike’s latest carbon-plated spikes for the race.

A Star-Studded Field and a Party Atmosphere

The event brought together top athletes including American sprinters Gabby Thomas and Sha’Carri Richardson, Athletes arrived via a red carpet, and the atmosphere was described as lively with a live DJ on site. Athlos, founded by Ohanian and Serena Williams’ husband, is known for its focus on women’s athletics and high payouts; Hodgkinson’s win came after a mixed year, ending with a smile and a trophy.

Putting Women in the Spotlight

Hodgkinson said it was an honor to be the first to wear the suit, calling it a “moment” for women in sports; the event aimed to attract attention to female athletes and highlight their achievements. The combination of fashion and function in the suit symbolized the evolving nature of women’s track and field, With a season-ending victory, Hodgkinson reinforced her status as one of Britain’s top sprinters.