Olympic track stars dominate the Met Gala

The 2025 Met Gala–a.k.a. the fashion Olympics–was taken over by track stars. While A-list celebrities posed on the legendary steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan on Monday night, it was three world-class sprinters–Sha’Carri Richardson, Noah Lyles and Gabby Thomas–who stole the spotlight in their glamorous outfits.

The gala is one of pop culture’s most anticipated nights, widely regarded as the world’s most prestigious and glamorous fashion event. This year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” reportedly marked the first time since 2003 that the Costume Institute’s annual fundraiser focused exclusively on menswear.

Sha’Carri Richardson

The 25-year-old stuck with her usual maximalist looks we see on the track: pointy and colourful nails and long hair, adorned with 14 yellow bows. Except this time, Richardson swapped her race kit for Valentino haute couture. She wore a lavender lace bodice under a butter-yellow gown–the biggest colour this spring–designed by Alessandro Michele. Her chunky jewelry was courtesy of Alex Moss.

Richardson made her Met Gala debut in 2021, and was named to this year’s Met Gala host committee in February, joining a distinguished group of designers, actors, musicians and other athletes, including Simone Biles and Angel Reese.

 

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Since inking a five-year, $20 million contract with Nike last March, Richardson has become a prominent name in major events and spectacles. In July, she starred in Nike’s inspiring campaign, “Winning isn’t for everyone,” alongside Jakob Ingebrigtsen, LeBron James and Serena Williams.

Noah Lyles

The Olympic 100m champion was seen posing on the steps of the Met in a black Thom Browne suit jacket and shorts, accessorized with jewelry by Ana Khouri–specifically, diamond-encrusted pearls. “I’ve been told his is billionaire jewelry,” he told ENews. Pearls have been a dedicated staple to his stylish looks on the track.

“Everybody is going to be wearing pants,” Lyles said, explaining his style choice to opt for shorts instead of pants. “I can’t be like everybody else. I’m the world’s fastest man–I got to be different.” His outfit was complete with gold accents, painted finger nails and a sleep umbrella.

Like Richardson, Lyles also attended his first Met Gala in 2021.

 

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His fiancée, Jamaican sprinter Junelle Bromfield, did not attend the event; the pair is currently planning their wedding. Lyles walked the carpet with jewelry designer, Khouri.

Lyles has already acquired an iconic reputation for his bold personality and fashion sense. Most recently, the 27-year-old turned heads at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, making his entrance in an all-white outfit, complete with a furry hood, funky shades and a leather bag.

Gabby Thomas

The Olympic 200m champion went from Slam to glam at Monday’s gala, bouncing back from a second-place finish at the weekend’s Grand Slam Track in Miami. The 28-year-old took on the red carpet wearing a stunning red gown by Ahluwalia, with her hair in an elegant updo.

“As an elite athlete, her power is undeniable,” designer Priya Ahluwalia wrote on Instagram. “But we also wanted to honour her grace and heritage. From the structured tailoring to 10,000 beads that trace movement and memory, this look is all about the balance of strength and elegance, a visual tribute to Black excellence and Gabby’s own journey.”