Gabby Thomas Expresses Bitter Feelings Around Diamond League As Track and Field Star Gives Honest Take on Grand Slam Track

Track and field may be all about speed, but when it comes to making a living? Slow and painful. As per a survey for 4,400 athletes, 59% reported making less than $25,000 during the year of their respective Olympics. Despite sponsorships providing respite, that’s still a staggering figure if you compare the millions NBA and NFL players make. What’s more heartbreaking? There are many who even struggle to pay rent. I mean, who doesn’t remember Veronica Fraley’s honest confession about the same? Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and hip-hop artist Flavor Flav had stepped up to cover the cost back then. But, thankfully, the difficult days seem to be ending soon, thanks to Michael Johnson’s new launch, providing Gabby Thomas to shed light on how the Diamond League pales in comparison…

For the unversed: In June last year, Four-time Olympic gold medalist Johnson launched his ambitious project: Grand Slam Track. Notably, the inaugural event will begin in Kingston, Jamaica from April 4 to 6. The next events will be Miami Slam (May 2-4), Philadelphia Slam (May 30-June 1), and Los Angeles Slam (June 27-29).

And as the 28-year-old best described it, “[Grand Slam Track will provide] the highest prize purse in our sport.” Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? But today, Gabby Thomas is pulling back the curtain on the harsh reality. In a recent interview on  A Touch More with Sue Bird & Megan Rapinoe, Nikki Hiltz Gabby Thomas didn’t hold back when discussing Grand Slam Track and how it’s shaking up the track and field world. Both athletes are part of the series, and when asked why they joined, the answer was crystal clear—money. And not just any money, big money. Retired soccer star Meghan Rapinoe began, “We want to ask you both about Grand Slam track and, both of your decisions to add that to your schedule and just like what went into it?” 

To this, Nikki Hiltz responded, “I think a good way to put it is…the Olympics is the best in the world coming together once every four years. And Grand Slam is the best in the world coming together four times a year…I think I decided to do it…maybe this is shallow of me, but for the money.” Thomas then continued, “It’s really not shallow at all, because in our sport, we you don’t get paid essentially.”

Unlike the usual grind where track athletes barely scrape by, this series pays. How much? Let’s do the math. A World Championships gold medal gets you $150,000, but win just one Grand Slam event, and you’re pocketing $100,000. Even eighth place takes home $10,000. Stack up four wins for the four events in a year, and you’re looking at a cool $400,000. Now that’s not just running for glory—that’s running for a real paycheck.

As Gabby Thomas put it, “It’s really striking to me how in track and field, unless you have an outside sponsorship, you don’t get paid.” And she’s not wrong. Unlike other pro sports with guaranteed salaries, track and field athletes rely solely on prize money and sponsorships—no wins, no paycheck. But even those are not guaranteed.

The 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist provided insight into the challenging reality of earning money in the athletic world. Prior to Grand Slam Track, most competitors had to travel overseas as excellent prize money exist only through international venues. Athletes rely on the Diamond League for prize money competitions since it awards $10,000, but the funds soon faded!

“You do still have to, you know, if it’s not covered, pay for your travel, agent fees, coaching fees, and all of that. So hopefully, you go—like, the whole $10,000, there it goes,” she revealed. Many athletes would often return home not with earnings but with debt. And even the biggest payouts weren’t exactly life-changing. “In our main championship, the Diamond League Finals, I mean, you can win $50K,” Gabby Thomas said. Meanwhile, professionals from other disciplines continue to bring in millions.

The athletes of the Big 4 leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL) are already signed to multi-million dollar contracts. Now, this might be attributed to the franchise style system that’s prevalent. Regardless, this creates an abundant contrast. The novelty of Grand Slam Track stands out because of its groundbreaking nature. Despite larger prize pools, track and field running remains an exceptionally tough profession from which to earn a living.

But what about Gabby Thomas? She depends on prize money but also maintains a separate job to keep her life stable. An Olympic medalist still needs to chase down additional jobs for financial stability. But what exactly is this side gig?

Gabby Thomas isn’t making money on the track, so where’s the real payday?

“I don’t make my money on the track,” Gabby Thomas admitted, which turned out to be completely truthful. Despite her three Olympic gold medals, Gabby relies on more sources of income than prizes because athletic earnings cannot cover expenses. So where does the cash come from? According to Meaww, her net worth sits somewhere between $1 million to $5 million, but the track isn’t her main paycheck.

On the Net Worth and Chill podcast, Gabby spilled the tea: “I have a job that is to run, but I have a second job.” And that second job? Being her own brand. “It’s to essentially be an influencer,” she explained. And she’s not just talking the talk—her 1.1 million Instagram followers, Vogue cover feature, and brand deals with Amazfit and CAVA prove she’s got the business game on lock.

With the Olympics paying $37,000 for gold—and even less for relay racers who have to split it—Gabby knew she had to secure the bag elsewhere. And honestly, the payout is almost laughable. When Gabby revealed the $37K Olympic prize, her podcast host, Lu, practically choked. “That’s it? 37 G’s for what could be a lifetime worth of work? No, absolutely.” And she’s got a point.

Athletes drop six figures on training, travel, and coaching just to make it to the podium, and that payout barely scratches the surface. No wonder Gabby and so many others are turning to brand deals and social media to keep their careers afloat. Because in track and field, running fast is one thing, but if you want to stay in the game, you’ve got to play smart.