‘Everybody Watches’: TIME100 Sports Honorees on Red Carpet Celebrate Rise of Women’s Sports

July 17, 2026

Multiple guests walking the red carpet at the inaugural TIME100 Sports Gala in New York City on July 16 applauded the rise of women’s sports.

“Everybody watches women’s sports!” said Eileen Gu, the 2026 TIME100 Sports honoree who has won six Olympic medals.

Gu said she was “honored” to be “among greatness” at the event celebrating the most influential athletes, coaches, advocates, and investors in sports.

“Being a woman in a male-dominated sport, growing up, there were not a lot of athletes who looked like me,” the Chinese-American freestyle skier said. “I’m so grateful and so blessed to represent this sport on the world stage.” Time