Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track Officially Launches
Four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson has officially launched his new track league, Grand Slam Track (GST).
The competition’s first slam event will take place in April 2025, and will be followed by three additional meetings later in the summer.
One of these four events will be staged in Los Angeles, where the league will also be headquartered, while one slam will also take place elsewhere in the US. Details of the remaining two slams, which will be staged in international locations, will be revealed in their respective home markets later this summer.
In total, GST will offer a prize purse of $12.6m (£9.92m) across all events. The winner of each slam will receive $100,000, (£78,800) while the 8th placed racer will earn $10,000 (£7,870).
Founded by the former 200m and 400m gold medalist, Johnson’s fan-oriented series is aiming to tap into track’s global fanbase of 2.5 billion.
Earlier this year, the 56-year-old American received $30m in investment funding to launch a new track and field league, which will look to drive fan engagement and sponsorship opportunities for athletes, as well as providing elite competition. Winners Alliance, an athlete-centric commercial solution which also serves as Johnson’s operating partner, was the lead investor in the funding round.
Each slam will comprise 96 athletes, featuring 48 ‘GST racers’ who will be contracted to compete in all four meetings. The remaining 48 competitors, known as ‘GST challengers’, will participate on an individual basis.
Having announced its launch, GST has signed up US Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as its first racer.
Participants will compete in twelve event categories across both genders, including short, middle and long distance sprints as well as hurdle races.
The slams will focus on head-to-head competition, with one woman and man crowned champion each year based on their number of wins, rather than track times.
Johnson, who will serve as the league’s Commissioner, said, “I am delighted to finally unveil Grand Slam Track to the millions of track fans around the world.
“We are excited to launch this new platform for the planet’s greatest racers in this sport we all love.
“Our team has worked tirelessly to design and build a product that will be loved by fans and provide opportunities for our racers that they truly deserve.
“We’re revolutionising the track landscape, allowing our sport to remain at the forefront of the sporting world year round, and pushing our superstar racers to break new ground in their personal storytelling, competitive success, and marketability.
“Grand Slam Track is going to take our sport to new heights, and we want you to come along for the ride.”
Johnson is represented by London-based agency Think Beyond.
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