The 2024 track and field season is not a done deal yet! The Paris Olympics and Diamond League fever might be over, but the fans have barely turned away from their screens. For in just 9 days from today, a first-of-its-kind event launches at the Icahn Stadium— the Athlos NYC. While it’s part of the track and field pack, do you know what are the features that make it distinct? It’s a women-only event set to feature six premier races, with some of the top phenoms sprinting down the tracks.

On the other hand, there’s the Grand Slam Track, the brainchild of four-time Olympic medalist Michael Johnson. While it might be a newcomer to the track circuit, much like Athlos, it offers a distinctly different package. Set to debut in Spring 2025, it has much to be compared with Alexis Ohanian’s Athlos NYC, particularly regarding the prize money offered to athletes. Here’s a look at how much sprinting sensations can potentially earn through these leagues.

Who’s splurging more— Athlos NYC or the Grand Slam Track?

Well, the Athlos NYC is set to to be among the highest paying track leagues, with a total prize pool of $500,000. Featuring stars like Gabby Thomas, Alexis Homes, Faith Kipyegon and others, the league is set to award $60K to the winner in a race. The silver winner bags $25K, whereas the bronze one takes home $10K. For athletes who don’t finish on the podium, there’s still prizes fixed at $8K, $5K, and $2.5K for the fourth, fifth, and sixth positions.

On the other hand, Johnson’s league, the Grand Slam Track, where Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is the first officially committed athlete, boasts a prize pool of a staggering $12.6 million. Each year, all 48 athletes competing in the Slam’s races will be eligible for prizes based on their finishes, as well as a base compensation. The prize amounts will range from $10,000 for 8th place to $100,000 for the winner. With the Grand Slam Track set to take place four times a year, athletes could potentially win up to $400,000 if they secure gold in all the races!

And possibly, one of the best aspects about these leagues is that they harbor the motive to revolutionize the sport and prioritize the athletes. While this comes with the added bonus of a nabbing a huge monetary prize, do you know how do these figures fare compared to what the rest of the leagues offer? Let’s have a look!

Athlos and the Grand Slam track chase a vision

Opening up on his rationale behind the Athlos NYC event, Alexis Ohanian had previously noted, “One of the biggest reasons to start ATHLOS was because of these athletes.” While he wants to show that even though the Olympics are over, his league features the same athletes ‘running for big dollars’ amidst the electrifying energy of NYC and telling their stories, he also wishes to inspire the next generation.

Meanwhile, Michael Johnson shares a similar vision. Speaking to Citius Mag recently, he revealed that elevating the sport is his league’s top priority, particularly because their prize purse positions them at the pinnacle. How so? With a top prize of $100,000 for the winner, the Grand Slam Track offers the highest prize money in the sport. This is followed by World Athletics, which offers $70,000 for the championships. Athlos NYC comes next with $60,000, and the Diamond League rounds out the list with $10,000.

When comparing the prize offerings, Athlos NYC awards $2,500 to its sixth-place finisher, whereas the Grand Slam Track provides a more substantial $10,000 to its last-place finisher. In contrast, the Diamond League offers only $1,000 to its eighth-place finisher. What do you think about these significant differences in prize money among the leagues? Share your thoughts below!