A guaranteed big purse: ticked. A large contingent of fiery athletes: done. No bar on using personal marketing: approved. Just before Christmas, Michael Johnson appeared with a magic wand named Grand Slam Track with all those offers. And remember, many more are coming. One of those might surely appease Kenny Bednarek!

On his return from the Paris Olympics, Kenny complained of having no special treatment in flight, despite winning the 200m silver medal in the men’s sprint. On X, the athlete vented his emotion by penning, “No flight upgrade after a silver medal [emoji]”. However, on the other hand, his compatriot, Noah Lyles, had an uncommon experience, as at the St. Regis, his room had been upgraded. Michael Johnson aims to end this difference with his $30 million pet project, Grand Slam Track. 

On August 23, the four-time Olympic champion posted a message promising business-class tickets and dedicated concierge support for the athletes bound for his track project. Along the same lines, he stated the reason for introducing such a grand offer: “travel logistics aren’t a headache and they can focus on racing.” It could be a part of the “professional environment” Johnson is trying to develop in athletics. 

In the video, Michael Johnson shared insights on how other sports have influenced his career, specifically highlighting the impact of NFL players. Johnson, who had notable camaraderie with NFL stars, learned firsthand how the professional environment surrounding an athlete can significantly affect performance. “Believe me, the environment has a large effect on performance,” he emphasized.

This time, Johnson wasn’t discussing deals or endorsements. Instead, he focused on the more subtle yet crucial aspects of a professional setup. “What sort of hotel am I going to be staying at? What sort of, you know, meals am I going to have available to me?” he listed. He also mentioned the importance of “logistics and transportation.” Johnson concluded that these seemingly small details had a positive impact on his performance. “All of those things impact my ability to go in there and perform at my best,” he shared candidly.

As athletes gear up for fresh challenges, Johnson’s words might just offer the “success juice” needed to excel, especially for competitors like Kenny Bednarek, who may find these insights particularly relevant. Meanwhile, despite securing a silver medal in the 200m, the track star is still facing backlash over a significant slip-up.

Kenny Bednarek’s plight may come to an end 

While Kenny Bednarek’s X-post gave an idea of the lack of facilities he had faced despite bringing glory to his country at the Olympics, several track fans found some loose ends. They blamed his mistake in the men’s 4x100m relay final at the Paris Olympics, which cost the team badly. According to them, that mistake barred the athlete from getting extra facilities on his return from the French capital. 

Notably, in the relay final, Kenny collided with Christian Coleman while exchanging the baton. As a result, the handover of the baton happened just outside the designated zone on the track. That led to the disqualification of the American men’s relay team at the final. But the situation is not that simple. 

Before moving to the 2024 US Olympic track and field trials, both Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles had to spend an immense sum on the journey and accommodation at the venue. That forced him to post on X, “The cost to fly and accommodate my team at the trials and Olympics is pretty wild. Prices are jacked up.” Noah fittingly replied to that post: “It’s hard for all of us man”. When the athletes are already earning little from sports, such issues are expected to create more pressure on them. 

But thankfully, Michael Johnson’s ambitious project shows bright hope. It can end all those niggling problems. However, both Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles have yet to sign up for the contest. But their fans are already hoping to witness a better end!