Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has extended a special invitation to rising tennis star Coco Gauff, offering her a VIP experience at the Athlos 25 event.
Ohanian’s offer came after New Zealand sprinter Zoe Hobbs praised Gauff’s remarkable athleticism. While Gauff is best known for her dominance on the tennis court, including her 2023 US Open victory, she has previously hinted at her talent in track and field—possibly influencing Ohanian’s decision to invite her.
In a video shared by Athlos’ official X account, Hobbs expressed admiration for Gauff, saying, “Someone who would startle me if I came across them would be Coco Gauff. I was just so impressed with the power that they have. To see them actually play in person is so different from seeing them on TV, and Coco, being one of the best in the world, I think it would be awesome to meet her.”
In response, Ohanian reposted the video and tagged Gauff, writing, “I got a spot waiting for you in a trackside suite.”
Gauff’s exceptional speed on the tennis court has drawn comparisons to elite sprinters, and she has spoken about her past potential in track athletics. In a 2023 interview with Marca, she stated, “I don’t know if I would have been as good as I was in tennis in track. But I strongly feel like if I would have trained, I could have been an Olympian. Track is the only sport I would say that in, just because I did do well in middle school, never training. I didn’t go to one track practice, and I won all my races except two.”
Athleticism runs in Gauff’s family—her mother, Candi, was a track and field standout at Florida State University, while her father, Corey, played basketball at Georgia State.
Ohanian has long been a vocal supporter of Gauff’s talent. Earlier this year, he applauded her after American hurdler Alaysha Johnson shared a story from the Paris 2024 Olympics, where Gauff recognized her for her distinctive uniforms and “frozen glasses.” Ohanian responded on social media, tweeting, “Here for Coco Gauff and Alaysha Johnson.”
A strong advocate for women’s sports, Ohanian has backed Athlos’ initiatives, including a groundbreaking 2024 competition with a record-setting prize pool that has drawn Olympic stars like Gabby Thomas and Faith Kipyegon.
With this latest invitation, Ohanian hopes to see Gauff at the Athlos 25 event—but whether she accepts remains to be seen.
