When you think of sprinting legends, Michael Johnson is a name that comes on top. Johnson has four Olympic gold medals and eight World Championships to his name! Despite all the laurels that the world celebrated, Johnson recently revealed a story that stings him, even today. As Johnson himself puts it, “It was the biggest disappointment of my career, full stop.” So, what exactly happened?

Buckle up, folks, we are going back to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. In the lead-up to the Games, Johnson was at his peak performance. He was a world champion, undefeated, and ranked number one for two consecutive years. Michael Johnson was the 200m favorite. During the trials, he missed Frankie Fredericks’ world record by just 0.33 seconds! He was a guaranteed Gold for America, but fate unfortunately had other plans.

“A month or so, six weeks or so before, I had just missed out on the world record—just barely missed it,” Michael recalled. “So I was in the best shape of my life.” But that best shape wasn’t going to be enough. Michael and his agent both ended up with food poisoning at a restaurant in Spain, just weeks before the biggest event of his life. Imagine having trained for years, and at the final moment, you can’t race.

“I find myself just in an absolute battle of a race in the first round. It’s never happened to me before,” Michael added. He recalled feeling like he was “running in someone else’s body.” Yet he managed to get through the first round. “I won that race, but just barely, and it took everything in me. I knew immediately something was wrong.” Johnson should have listened to his body because what followed was what he now calls his “biggest disappointment.”

It was the day of the semifinals, and Johnson finished sixth. He missed out on his chance at the final by 0.16 seconds. But wait, the story doesn’t end here! Johnson still had a chance at redemption. He joined the 4 × 400 meters relay team, and together, they won the gold. And in the process, they also set a new world record of 2:55.74, with Johnson splitting 44.73. Over three decades have passed since the 1992 downfall. One might think these memories fade after winning another three Olympic medals. But not for Johnson; his love for the sport remains strong as ever.

32 years later, the love for track remains untouched!

Yes, you read that right! Thirty-two long years later, Michael Johnson is back in the game. Not as a participant but with a league of his own! Michael is all set for his latest athletic venture, Grand Slam Track. The GST is set to launch in 2025. An idea that began brewing in the 1990s has finally materialized into something bigger than even Michael could have imagined. So what’s the tea on Grand Slam Track?

This league comes with big claims. Michael Johnson laughed at it as a step towards something that the track and field community has been in desperate need of. Visibility! Unlike other leagues, GST is set to go all year long, with one meet every quarter. GST also wrestles with the other issues faced by track athletes. Prize money. The prize money for the first palace is $100,000. That is a huge step ahead for track and field!

And the athletes see it, too. The prize and the aim have already gotten the attention of many big names. Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and 2023 world champion Josh Kerr will be seen at GST 2025. To make it more exciting, American favorites Fred Kerely and Kenny Bednarek will go head-to-head in the men’s short sprint events. Meanwhile, Kerr will be facing two other American favorites. Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse will join Kerr in the long sprints. GST doesn’t just call for an exciting race but gives these athletes a chance to gain more exposure.

With Grand Slam Track, Michael Johnson is keeping his love and the world’s love for sprinting alive! Here’s to new beginnings and a love for sports that never dies.