If you haven’t been aware of what’s going on in the track and field world, we got you. The Wanda Diamond League found themselves in the eye of the storm when track and field legend Carl Lewis stated that he wasn’t a fan of the meet. However, as they bid adieu to the 2024 season, they seem to have welcomed the next season with open arms and a surprise announcement. On September 18, they announced that the total prize fund would rise significantly to an astonishing $9.24 million.

However, this update rubbed a few fans the wrong way. Amid a slew of outrage on DL’s post on X, Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track had an announcement of its own. “EVERY. SINGLE. SLAM. 💰” But the update right after caught several eyeballs. “Catch the fastest Racers in the world compete for the largest prize money in the sport four times a year!” This season, every winner at a Diamond League series received $10,000, while the champion walked away with $30,000. Evidently, these numbers don’t hold a candle to what the Grand Slam Track is offering. 

4x Olympic medalist Michael Johnson unveiled the Grand Slam Track League on June 18. Set to take place in 2025, the event will have four marquee meets each year. With Los Angeles set to host the 2028 Olympics, the city will also host one of the events for GST. With another set to take place in a different location in the States, the other two will occur overseas. The athletes will contest in 2 events during each Slam over 3 days.

The retired sprinter realized that the current structure doesn’t prioritize the athletes. “We’re revolutionizing 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,” he stated. The athletes will also receive points to determine their standings in the league, ranging from 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 point for ranking 1st to 8th.

The Grand Slam Track’s total prize fund is a staggering $12.6 million, compared to the Diamond League’s $9.24 million. Every athlete contesting in the GST will receive a prize based on their results. But that’s not it. They will also receive an appearance fee on a slam-by-slam basis. Additionally, athletes could receive an astounding $40,000 if they clinch a gold in all 4 meets. However, all eight participants in every event will walk away with a significant amount of prize money. Here is a breakdown of what to expect:

The massive prize money at the Grand Slam Track has everyone talking, setting a new bar for how much athletes should be paid. But while it’s making waves, the Diamond League is getting a different kind of attention.

Why did the Diamond League catch heat for their major announcement?

2024 has not been the easiest for DL. Athletes and fans alike voiced their displeasure about certain factors of the meet. However, their biggest blow came when Carl Lewis demanded a change. He shared his disdain on X: “The Diamond League has always been about collusion and lowering athletes’ control and pay. It needs to go.” And it looks like things finally clicked in place for them. On September 18, they surprised fans with a shocking announcement. 

They posted on X, “Prize money in the Wanda Diamond League will increase to its highest ever level from the 2025 season onwards 💎New total over a third higher than recent seasons, with an estimated 270 million USD invested in athletes since 2010 📈” They seem to have taken ‘new year, new me’ seriously. In 2025, the total prize pool comes up to a massive $500,000, with an additional total of $2.24 million at the finals in Zurich. The bigger the prizes, the higher the stakes, right? But the timing of the Grand Slam Track’s announcement leaves one question in mind. Could this be a possible dig at the Diamond League?