What a wild ride it’s been for track and field this season! With the Olympics and Diamond League lighting up the scene, excitement is off the charts. Now, the American former Olympic champion sprinter, Michael Johnson is adding to the buzz with a brand-new event called the Grand Slam Track, kicking off next April. This league will run from April to September, featuring four epic meets where the fastest athletes will face off in six event groups.

Among the first sign-ups was the incredible Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, two-time Olympic 400mH champ and world record holder. And just a week later, Great Britain’s Josh Kerr, the 1500m World Champion, jumped on board too. So, what’s the big deal about this league compared to the Diamond League and the Olympics? Johnson’s got some exciting ideas that could really shake things up!

Michael Johnson dropped by CITIUS MAG to chat about the new Grand Slam Track league, and it was pretty cool. When the host asked how this league fits with the Diamond League, he jumped right in, saying, “Our athletes aren’t exclusive. They’ll compete in all sorts of events, including the Diamond League.” He’s all about supporting stars like Sydney McLaughlin while uplifting the entire track community.

He didn’t hold back on his thoughts, saying, “I’m unapologetic about, you know, my perspective that we sit at the top of the sport, at the top of the pyramid, at the highest prize money and the most high-profile athletes.” Johnson is really passionate about elevating both track and field events. He wants to make sure the best talent gets the spotlight they deserve. It’s all about creating a true professional environment where fans can count on seeing the top athletes go head-to-head.

Johnson feels they’re addressing a significant gap in the sport that’s been craving real attention. He’s all in on bringing fresh, innovative presentations and high-quality competitions to the scene, ensuring fans recognize they’re witnessing the best athletes in action. It’s a thrilling time for track and field, and he’s definitely excited to take the lead in this new adventure!

So what’s the Grand Slam Track all about that makes it different from leagues like the Diamond League and is now so hyped up?

Michael Johnson’s game-changer in Track and Field

In the six event groups, there are four ‘Racers’ who will go head-to-head across all four Slams during the season. Each time, they’ll face a new squad of four ‘Challengers’ who are ready to give them a run for their money. This means we can expect some epic matchups and thrilling races! And get this—each athlete won’t just compete once at a Slam; they’ll actually go for it twice in their event group, which is gonna make things even more exciting!

The Grand Slam Track got its first sprinters with Kenny Bednarek and Fred Kerley, who dropped their plans just two weeks ago. And on September 20, they added another star to the lineup—Olympic 100m bronze medalist Melissa Jefferson is officially on board, making her the seventh athlete to join this exciting new league. Things are heating up for Grand Slam Track!

This summer, Johnson and the Grand Slam Track team revealed some awesome news for their first season, with a total prize pool of $12.6 million. At each Slam, the event group winners will snag $100,000, while the next seven finishers will also pocket some nice cash, from $50,000 down to $10,000. But here’s the twist: all this excitement could come with some headaches for the Diamond League next year because of their deal with FloSports for broadcasting. Looks like it’s going to be an interesting ride!