With $30 Million in Hand, Track and Field Legend Michael Johnson Makes New Promise

There’s a lot of unprecedented changes transpiring within track and field of late. From prize money initiation, i.e. a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow courtesy World Athletics to Michael Johnson’s $30 million grand vision of setting up a track league to give impetus to athletes, we are in for a treat. Johnson’s latest move comes in clutch right when the pay disparity issue in track is heating up, with athletes being under-compensated for the painstaking efforts they put in.

Johnson’s vision extends beyond mere competition. Post retirement, his life has been anything but quaint and sleepy as he looks to bolster and ameliorate the plight of track and field today. Thus, leveraging his gift of the gab and star wattage, Johnson recently responded to a fan’s tweet over his X account, indicating his willingness to address concerns and drive positive change within the sport.

Michael Johnson lends his gift of the gab yet again

On April 30th, 2024, 56-year-old Johnson, took to Twitter to engage with fans and address their concerns about the state of track and field. He responded to a user named “natemezmer,” who lamented about the lack of innovative camera angles in track coverage. The fan posted a video showing sprinters running, but the angle of them running remains constant and stationary, which is hard for fans to see scores and how they are running from a higher view. The fan’s post was itself a repost from another user account with the caption, “The sport looks a helluva lot cooler from this angle“. To this, Johnson offered a befittingly promising reply.

“Thanks. Leave it with me.” was his quip and we can rest assured that track and field camera angles get the much needed advent of technological prowess it desperately needs, backed by his comment. What drives this relentless pursuit of excellence in the Olympian? It’s the realization that the sport lacks the global attention that leagues like the NFL or NBA have right now. Despite the presence of exceptional athletes, the sport struggles to attract a broader audience because of inadequate marketing. Providing a just platform for track stars to emerge victorious on global podiums and diasporas the world over, here’s a sneak peek at Michael Johnson’s tireless track league endeavor?

What does the behemoth $30 million investment entail?

Johnson’s ambitious revitalization plans received a substantial boost with a $30 million investment from various backers. Spearheaded by Winners Alliance, the investment will support Johnson’s vision of launching a track league in 2025. This substantial financial backing reflects the confidence in Johnson’s leadership and the potential for innovation within the sport. Being privy to his entrepreneurial spirit, we can rest assured his fan focused league will drive hordes of enthusiasts to it like a moth to a flame.

“I don’t think anyone [until now] has tried to show the essence of the sport and really put the athletes front and center” – quipped Winners Alliance president Eric Winston once in a tête-à-tête. He further proclaimed that this might give a much-needed dire boost to the track realm as it stands today.  “It’s not just track; athletes are the main event. The NBA has made a push to put their athletes front and center and even the NFL, which was always a team-driven league, has done so as well.” – Winston remarks, drawing allusions to the NBA and the NFL, which has proliferated in comparison to track.

How did this embryonic idea come into being? Just before this year’s World Indoor Championships and he went on to say that –“Hey everybody, just wanted to come out here and let you know how excited I am about my new track venture”. The main promulgator/ beneficiary Winners Alliance is a for-profit wing of the Professional Tennis Players Association. With the Winston led Winners Alliance and Michael Johnson’s keen insight into bettering the track world, what’s in the offing come 2025? Time will tell, but the track league opening with confetti is a sure sign.