Track Athletes Shine on 2021 Met Gala Red Carpet

Stars from the track, tennis court, soccer pitch, and more traded in high performance for high fashion on Monday at the Met Gala, an annual celebrity event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

The event is like the Oscars of fashion. According to Vogue, whose editor Anna Wintour is considered the mastermind behind the revered event, “it’s an evening when designers, models, and Hollywood stars convene in the year’s most over-the-top looks to fundraise at a new exhibit from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.”

Among the 2021 attendees were U.S. Olympians Allyson Felix and Noah Lyles, as well as Sha’Carri Richardson, who won the 100-meter dash at the Olympic Trials but was not allowed to compete after testing positive for marijuana. Nonetheless, Richardson has made a lasting impression on the sport and beyond with her outspoken nature, ever-changing hair colors, and sense of style on race day.

Those who scored an invite to the gala are asked to dress to a chosen theme. This year’s was “American Independence,” which celebrated the new exhibit at the Met called “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.” Richardson wore a Theophilio creation, a red-orange top with a black fringe skirt.

“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,” Richardson told Vogue.

It’s not often that we see our favorite athletes all glammed up and heading to a ball instead of a starting line. Fans took it all in as the photos rolled out on social media. Here’s what they had to say:

Comedian Emily Heller was cracking us up with her viral Twitter thread comparing various looks to interpretations of seltzer.

Okay I think it's "seltzer"

— Emily Heller (@MrEmilyHeller) September 13, 2021

White Claw pic.twitter.com/2tTZloIScS

— Emily Heller (@MrEmilyHeller) September 13, 2021

She was sort of on to something, to be honest.

Wow, I am right pic.twitter.com/gQfWmz0kEM

— Emily Heller (@MrEmilyHeller) September 14, 2021

The queen of the night (by track and field standards, anyway) was Allyson Felix, who was wearing a stunning Fendi gown and bold emerald jewelry.

https://twitter.com/WorldAthletics/status/1437777266751283211

https://twitter.com/usatf/status/1437774868053954562

Someone get @allysonfelix another gold for this look. #MetGala pic.twitter.com/BIRO9rsHfY

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) September 14, 2021

Felix was joined by fellow Athleta athlete, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. In honor of the event, Biles shared that their sponsor was donating $50,000 to their Power Of She fund to empower women and girls around the world.

https://twitter.com/Simone_Biles/status/1437807693725589509

RELATED: Allyson Felix and Athleta are Breaking the Mold

Felix wasn’t the only track and field athlete on the red carpet. Richardson told Entertainment Tonight that she felt “delicious” and like “Cinderella.”

.@itskerrii feels like Cinderella at her first #MetGala pic.twitter.com/6TnquHTkWe

— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) September 14, 2021

This look didn't get enough credit for us! Edvin Thompson of @TPHTheophilio and @itskerrii at the 2021 #MetGala pic.twitter.com/XPGfRA0NGQ

— GRAZIA (@graziatweets) September 14, 2021

Olympic 200-meter bronze medalist Noah Lyles also attended wearing an all-white suit with gold cufflinks in the shape of fists, as well as a raised fist necklace on a gold chain.

The Met Gala!
Need I say more? #MetGala pic.twitter.com/WGpIDr6zCR

— Noah Lyles, OLY (@LylesNoah) September 14, 2021

Bringing it back to the sport, New York Road Runners’ director of professional athletes ironically reminded us that stars of the Fifth Avenue Mile had been right where Lyles was standing on Sunday.

It’s been awesome to see photos of @LylesNoah @itskerrii & @allysonfelix at the Met Gala but c’mon you guys CENTRO WAS RIGHT THERE ON SUNDAY #NB5thAveMile https://t.co/TFKOZwQjux

— Sam Grotewold (@nyrr_pro) September 14, 2021