The Olympics ended last month, but the Fashion Olympics (aka New York Fashion Week) have just begun, and designers are convening athletes.

The trend of “ordinary people as models” has been seen at past Fashion Weeks. Comedians, podcasters, and downtown socialites have firmly established themselves as NYFW regulars over the past few years. Shows like Rachel Antonoff x Susan Alexandra and Corina Strada still feature them in and around the show. This year, however, sportswomen are the new it-girls, dominating the front row and even the runway castings.

Still reeling from her team gold medal team win in Paris, U.S. team gymnast Jordan Childs walked the catwalk for Kim Shui. Her teammate and bronze medalist Sunny Lee sat on the Tommy Hilfiger front row with track and field athlete Gabby Thomas. At Jonathan Simkhai, Lee and former U.S. team gymnast and two-time Olympian Aly Raisman sat on the front row. A few nights later, Lee returned to the front row at Tory Burch.

Tiffany Hayes, a WNBA player for the Las Vegas Aces, left the court to walk in Kid Super's Fashion Week presentation. WNBA player Kaissle Gondrejcik of the Chicago Sky established herself as a mainstay of the street style scene with fit checks and photo shoots during Fashion Week. Gondresic has recently become a fashion darling, wearing luxury brands from Chanel to Saint Laurent in the pre-game tunnel.

This is not the first time the worlds of the WNBA and NYFW have collided. Earlier this year, basketball players Isabelle Harrison and Shakira Austin attended the Fall 2024 show created by renowned stylist Sydney Bordonaro, who specializes in athletes. And in 2022, Harrison made her runway debut closing out Kim Shui's Spring 2023 show.

Soccer stars have also scored some fashion goals from the front row. Gotham FC player Crystal Dunn attended Sergio Hudson's late-night runway in a matching set of checks, while Midge Purse stopped by Carolina Herrera's presentation on Monday morning in a silky column dress.

Meanwhile, in college sports, UConn Huskies star and WNBA No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers was in the front row at Off-White Spring 2025.

Athletes have always been careful about what they wear before and after games, perhaps even more so in the age of social media. It's a smart move for designers to include them in big brand-building events like Fashion Week, both to build relationships with these public figures and for exposure.

Companies like Skims have steadily used star athletes in their campaigns; in June, Suni Lee was the face of LoveShackFancy x Cotton's New Americana collection. Sorry, Bella Hadid! It's 2023 for models. You want to play some soccer?