After the dust settled from the Paris Olympics and the Athlos NYC 2024, the world of track and field took a collective breath. The IOC was basking in the glow of hosting a dazzling event, while Alexis Ohanian was over the moon for pulling off the first-ever women’s only track contest at Icahn Stadium. Everything seemed peachy until a little something stirred the pot, thanks to Ohanian himself. This soft-spoken entrepreneur, who usually keeps things low-key, decided to enter the chat and got Michael Johnson in on the action. So, what stirred this debate?

Fast forward from Athlos NYC 2024, and the athletic world is buzzing with anticipation for the Grand Slam Track (GST), a track contest boasting some jaw-dropping prize money. Just like Ohanian’s brainchild, GST promises a little something for everyone involved. Big names like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Cole Hocker, and Yared Nuguse have jumped on board, ready to strut their stuff in what’s shaping up to be a thrilling track showdown. But then Ohanian spotted a snag.

According to GST rules, athletes who sign up with the league need to get permission from the powers that be before they can ink deals with other competitions. Ohanian was having none of it. On X, he called out track legend and founder of the event Michael Johnson and Bill Ackman, a major investor in GST, for what he saw as a not-so-friendly policy towards athletes. He posted on October 2: “Hey, @MJGold I loved seeing you + @BillAckman Follow @ATHLOS by launching @GrandSlamTrack (great to see more people investing in athletics! ), but it’s disappointing you’re requiring these women to get permission from you & Bill in order to compete in other leagues. It’s not very athlete-friendly.” However, no one from the duo came back with their words steadfastly. But almost after a month, Michael Johnson has put something meaningful. 

In the latest share of GST on X, the chief patron of GST was seen having a conversation with Cole Hocker, the Olympic champion. In the conversation, the legend said, “Races mean something. It means something to you guys. But you know, we have to make sure that the fans understand how hard it is to go out there and win.” Is that the reason, acting behind the scenes, to pen such a regulation? Johnson didn’t break that. But in front of Hocker, the veteran athlete tried to signify the importance of GST. How? 

The basic structure of GST includes four annual slams to be hosted between April and September. Now, six groups of male athletes and six groups of female athletes will enter the events and they will have to improve their performances in each slam. As per Johnson, Cole Hocker may not win every race as Yared, Josh Kerr, or any other can take the bout. But Hocker will get sufficient chances to return to the top three in any of the Slams. All credit goes to the ranking system in the GST that keeps everything in check. Such an answer may have left Hocker amused, as in the video he initiated the discussion with the question, “What does this race mean?” 

And in hindsight, Johnson’s comment justifies the need for utmost dedication to the race that brings so many things to the table. Additionally, he mentioned, “This is going to be new into the sport.” Alexis Ohanian agrees and feels overwhelmed that major names have begun investing in athletics. Yet, the conditions of GST have made him raise his voice. But what are the conditions that are making waves? 

The Grand Slam Track has an answer for Alexis Ohanian 

In the last few months, Alexis Ohanian has come out to be the crusader, voicing against issues like low pay and disparities in payment in track and field sports. By introducing Athlos NYC 2024, he has tried to hit hard at the bottom of the issues. However, thankfully, several big names are now trying to incorporate the same tactics to make athletics great again. Yet, GST’s clause has failed to touch his heart. He protested against it. Meanwhile, the event also hit back with a fiery statement, without taking his name. 

In its official statement, GST didn’t hold back, declaring, “It’s unfortunate that in this pivotal moment to elevate the sport, there are some newcomers who think the way to do this is to create controversy through distortions.” They might have been clearly throwing some shade at Alexis Ohanian. But while the drama unfolds, let’s take a closer look at the actual clause causing all the ruckus.

The contract specifies that athletes must “obtain prior written consent” to “engage in a Competing Sports League’s event.” The catch? The list of exclusions includes major players like the Diamond League, the Olympics, national championships, and other traditional track competitions. So, the burning question remains: how does this affect the classification of events like Athlos NYC? And can Michael Johnson’s reasoning hold water in the face of Alexis Ohanian’s critique?