After Femke Bol’s coach, Laurent Meuwly rejected Michael Johnson’s upcoming Grand Slam Track league, American track and field athlete Marquis Dendy has also raised criticism. With a catchy prize pool, the league that kicks off next year will surely help the track athletes financially. However, “only the fastest, competing head to head against one another“ didn’t sit well with Deny.

“When you make leagues like that, that just sets that tone and narrative that sprints are the only thing that matters,“ said Dendy on the absence of field events. His words were harsh but reflected his disappointment. While the Delaware native wasn’t in favor of Johnson’s initiative, the 9x Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis had different thoughts.

On June 23, Lewis took to his X handle to reply to Dendy’s criticism of Michael Johnson. While there is no denying that field events need to be promoted as well, there’s no point in criticizing Johnson’s efforts. To substantiate that Lewis feels for Johnson, he wrote, “took the energy and time to bring millions of dollars and an event to our sport. He was a sprinter.” 

Lewis didn’t stop there. He even recommended that the field athletes step up and propose plans to grow their sport. He added, “That opportunity is there for anyone else to do the same, like the women will have as well. As a jumper, I challenge a field event person to do the same. Until then..” The 9x Olympic gold medalist’s confidence in Johnson’s league is immense. He feels the Grand Slam Track league will reshape the Track and Field events because Johnson promises to bring together the fastest people in the world.

Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track to bring the fastest athletes together

“I love this sport and owe everything I have to this sport,“ said Michael Johnson before launching his Grand Slam Track league. The upcoming league will ensure that the sports grow alongside the athletes. With a whopping $12.6 million prize up for grabs, two events will be held in America and the other two at international venues. 96 athletes will compete at a single meet, including 48 contracted players.

Johnson has announced that the Grand Slam Track league will kick off in April 2025. Although the dates aren’t yet revealed, they have already signed two-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. It will be interesting to see if the kickstart league redefines the track events in the coming days. What are your thoughts on this?