The Grand Slam Track event of Michael Johnson’s has been quite the talk of the town this year. With the ongoing off-season of the track and field over soon, the GST of 2025 is buzzing over the excitement among fans. Scheduled from April until June, the event is predecided with its host cities, including Miami, Kingston, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, with no involvement of the UK.

After facing some financial involvement with UK Athletics, who rejected to be a part of the event, Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium and the London Stadium were no longer choices of the host cities. With the situation now settled, a similar turn of events has lingered with a track and field Olympic champion concerning not monetary but his marketing value. The concern, however, lingers over his final decision to become a part of the GST.

Noah Lyles’ concerns about Michael Johnson’s GST

Carrying several accolades in his career, track and field star Noah Lyles feels sceptical about participating in the GST. Wanting a secured and confirmed chance of a TV sponsorship before taking the first step, Noah’s comments highlight the financial challenges faced in recent days by the event with nothing to gain in return and no such changes reflected on the problems yet. “I mean, it’s still in the same position as it has been all year until I see a TV sponsor. I can’t decide because I don’t. I’m not getting; I’m not gaining anything.”

For Noah Lyles, who is currently in popularity with his gold-winning performance at the Paris Olympics, the concern does not come in terms of money but over his popularity in the Grand Slam Track event. “I’ve already come in with a lot of accolades and a lot of things where I don’t need monetary value, but I need marketing value. So if I race and it’s not seen, where is the marketing for it? So I can’t. My first step is I have to make sure that whatever I do is seen.” With the decision remaining, the Olympic Champion is currently busy in preparation for the 2025 World Championship schedule in September.

With questions hanging upon Noah Lyles participation, names of other major stars and athletes from the track and field industry have come up in the GST. These names, however, come in confirmation with respective signed deals for the event.

Popular Figures in Grand Slam Track

A recent addition to the event, Athlon track and field star Gabby Thomas has signed a confirmed deal with Michael Johnson’s GST. Specializing in 100m and 200m races, the 2024 Olympic champion joins the Short Sprints category from the track event, majorly in 100m and 200m races. Joining Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, 1,500m world champion Josh Kerr, and Fred Kerley, Gabby’s addition comes in prominence with the sprinter expressing her excitement. “Coming off of the Olympics, I want to continue testing myself and competing at the highest level against the fastest women in the world. Grand Slam Track allows us that chance in 2025.”

Besides gaining finance concerns, Michael Jordan’s event has been gaining social media buzz over its addition to a major prize pool of GST. Awarded to 48 GST sprinters, an additional compensation apart from the prize money of $100,000 kept for the winners. The eighth position, however, won’t go unnoticed receiving $10,000 prize money.

With such attractive deals to gain the participation of popular athletes from the track and field industry, the change comes to lifting the popularity of sports in competition to the Grand Slam Track events of major sports like tennis and golf. Noah Lyles can, however, now think to change his mind over such attractive offers provided by Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track event.