Serena Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, is already a co-owner of a professional women’s soccer league and plans to organize the 776 Invitational, a female-only track event in September 2024. The millionaire co-founder of Reddit became interested in women’s track and field last year and contacted Olympic medalist Gabby Thomas. He also announced that his venture capital firm, Seven Seven Six, would sponsor the 776 Invitational.
The invitational aims to become the premier women’s track event and guarantees a safe space for women of color. Besides Douglas, the Summer Games’ medal candidate, British sprinter Annie Tagoe is also listed in the Invitational. Hence, when the English athlete recently updated fans on her setback, it drew instant worry from Ohanian.
Annie Tagoe, an athlete and IMG model, last won a bronze medal with her 4x100m relay team at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. Tagoe made headlines this year by committing to Alexis Ohanian’s 776 Invitational, despite dealing with knee issues and arthritis in the past. Today, she posted an update on X with the caption, “I got diagnosed with tendinitis in my hamstring & achilles in December and it’s so annoying so days I can run and some days I can’t even walk. Track is so ugh.” To which Ohanian was quick to comment, “Get well soon.”
The individualism of athletics provides no safety net when the trapdoor of injury opens. Tagoe is well aware that the emotional aspect of recovery is frequently considerably more difficult than the physical strains to which athletes can get used. Over the last decade, she has had surgery on both knees and gotten regular injections for her ankle arthritis. Tagoe experienced injuries to both knees that prevented her from running for several years and necessitated surgery in 2014 and 2015.
Tagoe signed with IMG Models in May 2021, and her first print cover was in the first issue of CircleZeroEight magazine next year. The Seven Seven Six-sponsored women-only event could not have added a better representative to emphasize inclusivity and equity than the British athlete who faced many challenges and has advocated for many burning issues. Additionally, the 776 Invitational format highlights its distinction from the traditional sporting landscape and seeks to raise female track athletes’ profiles.
Annie Tagoe’s athletics journey and influence
The Ghanaian-born Britisher, Annie Tagoe, competes in the 100m and 200m events and team relays. She began her career as a footballer before joining the charity Track Academy. The speedster’s first international debut for Great Britain came in the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics. Three years later, Tagoe won silver in the 4x100m relay at the European U23 Championships in Finland. She returned to prominence in 2023, running personal bests in the 100m and 200m, gaining a spot on Britain’s World Championships team in Budapest.
The potential Olympian is one of Great Britain’s active Black voices in sport. She has openly discussed her childhood experiences with racism, which prompted her to use skin-lightening makeup as a teenager. The 776 Invitational, with the support of powerful personalities like Alexis Ohanian, aims to highlight exceptional athletes like Annie Tagoe as they overcome personal and physical challenges.
