- Pro runners Allyson Felix, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Noah Lyles attended the 2021 Met Gala in New York City on September 13.
- There were several other athletes present, as well, including gymnasts Sunisa Lee and Nia Dennis, tennis star Naomi Osaka, U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe, skateboarder Nyjah Juston, among others.
When you think of athletes, you don’t necessarily think high fashion. But at the 2021 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on September 13, we saw many athletes swap their training gear for couture.
The gala always invites people having *a moment* in pop culture. This year, that included many runners, Olympians, and athletes, who all strutted their stuff on the iconic red carpet (which this year was white).
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This year’s theme, Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion, gave attendees a theme to creatively interpret. And the athletes showed off their serious sartorial prowesses.
Here are three runners who swapped their workout gear and running shoes for ballgowns and suits on Monday night.
Allyson Felix
The five-time Olympian absolutely slayed in her first Met Gala appearance. She wore a pastel blue Fendi Couture ball gown that was covered in 240,000 ostrich feathers and crystal beads, per People. She was at the gala representing her sponsor Athleta; the brand donated $50,000 to The Power of She Fund, which supports women and girls in their limitless potential.
“Athleta has been alongside me as I’ve entered the fashion space, first with my two capsule collections in partnership with them and most recently as I launched Saysh, my own shoe line,” Felix said, in a statement. “Tonight is such a big moment for fashion and I'm grateful and excited to be here with a partner that supports unconditionally.”
Also in attendance at the Met Gala was GOAT gymnast Simone Biles, who is sponsored by Athleta as well. The seven-time Olympic medalist wore an 88-pound (!!!) custom AREA x Athleta outfit designed by Beckett Fogg and Piotrek Panszczyk of Area, per Vogue.
Sha’Carri Richardson
The sprinter looked fierce at her first Met Gala, wearing a black and red bustier leather gown by designer Theophilio, per Vogue. She paired it with long nails done in red, black, gold, and white, and also rocked a chocker, cuff, and lace-cup heels.
“Black is excellent, Black is strong,” Richardson told Vogue. “I’m very proud of the fact that I’ll be wearing a Black designer tonight, to represent that we’re here and we’re part of America.”
Noah Lyles
The Olympic bronze medalist in the 200 meters wore an all-white suit that he accessorized with a gold and pave diamond chain with a closed fist, stylish gold fist cuff links, and a gold Omega Constellation Co-Axial Master Chronometer 39mm watch, per his Instagram Stories.
Lyles also gave behind-the-scenes access of himself getting ready on the Olympics’ official Instagram account, where he posted about his day of prep to Instagram Stories.
The runners weren’t the only athletes at the Met Gala. Among those in attendance was Olympic gymnast Sunisa Lee, who won the all-around gold medal in Tokyo; UCLA gymnast Nia Dennis, who went viral for her epic floor routines; U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe; tennis Grand Slam winner and Olympian Naomi Osaka; and Olympic skateboarder Nyjah Juston.
