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Daily Sports Smile: Serena Williams, Usain Bolt walk runway during New York Fashion Week

jaylon thompson, usa today
·4 min read

The latest fashion collections were revealed this week during the fall New York Fashion Week. All eyes were on new concepts and design innovations from brands including Telfar, Rebecca Minkoff, Tommy Hilfiger and Kenneth Nicholson, who dressed F1 driver Lewis Hamilton for last year's Met Gala. The festivities included star-studded events to preview the upcoming clothing lines.

However, it was the athletes who stole the show.

Serena Williams and Usain Bolt were among multiple sports stars who walked the runway during the week.

Fellow professionals Elaine Thompson-Herah, Kyle Kuzma and Katie Lou Samuelson made fashion statements by walking the Puma runway. Other WNBA stars DiDi Richards and Isabelle Harrison had their shining moments throughout the week.

Serena Williams

Williams, who debuted her S by Serena collection at New York Fashion Week in 2019, modeled a custom metallic cape dress designed by Balenciaga to open the Vogue World runway. Fresh off her final U.S. Open appearance, she walked alongside four ball girls in white tennis dresses, accessorized with tennis rackets.

When discussing her own fashion line, Williams told USA TODAY that her newest collection is designed to provide everyday comfort.

"My mindset is just to design with people in mind and not let any barriers stop you," Williams said.

Usain Bolt

Bolt was on the catwalk for Puma's Futrograde show to showcase the athletic company's new clothing line. The Olympic gold medalist wore a classy tuxedo with the iconic Puma signature on the lapel. He broke out his signature pose and trademark smile at the end of the runway to close the show.

"It’s definitely different walking," Bolt said. "I was just following all the models. They said slow it down and enjoy the moment. So, I did."

Elaine Thompson-Herah

Thompson-Herah also walked in Puma's Futrograde show. She signed with Puma in July. The reigning 100-meter and 200-meter Olympic gold medalist wore a zippered leotard, a jacket and thigh-high boots.

She said she's excited to represent the brand.

"Puma just felt like the right fit, a company that has been working with the World’s Fastest Man for decades," Thompson-Herah said after signing. "I’m excited to be part of such an elite group and can’t wait to get started."

Katie Lou Samuelson

The Los Angeles Sparks standout brought a unique spin to New York Fashion Week. She showcased a two-tone brown ensemble with white Puma sneakers. She also sported a wool hat to top off the look. Samuelson joined Puma in 2019 after being selected fourth overall in the WNBA Draft.

Kyle Kuzma

Kuzma modeled a hooded, all-black outfit accompanied with a black skirt. His shirt resembled a jersey with a white-trimmed outline. The Washington Wizards forward averaged 17.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 66 games last season. He signed a five-year deal with Puma since 2019.

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DiDi Richards

The New York Liberty star made her New York Fashion Week debut walking for mother-daughter brand Dur Doux. She wore an orange tie-dyed gown while fellow WNBA players cheered her on in the front row. Richards has made a name for herself as a fashionista off the court and her role as model made perfect sense.

"This is inside of her realm, and I’m really proud of her," teammate Michaela Onyenwere said. "Now that I’ve seen exactly what [Dur Doux is] able to produce, this is exactly where she needs to be."

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Isabel Harrison

Harrison showcased an outfit for Kim Shui's show. The Dallas Wings star rocked a black criss-crossed top with a flowing purple skirt. She spoke about the experience on Instagram and explained how she willed herself to walk in the show despite spraining her ankle only three weeks ago.

"I saw the heels that i had to wear for the show & my heart dropped," she said. "Honestly, i didn’t know if i would be able to pull it off. But knowing I’ve waited for this moment my entire life, that wasn’t going to stop me from having my dream come true. ... it still doesn’t feel real."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Athletes make statement walking runways during New York Fashion Week