Michael Johnson launches Grand Slam Track league in 2025

Michael Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, launched the Grand Slam Track (GST) league to address the lack of visibility and financial insecurity faced by track and field athletes outside the Olympic spotlight. Johnson’s vision is to create a structured, year-round league where star athletes compete regularly, fostering fan engagement, recurring rivalries, and sustained storylines. The GST features a format with 48 permanent racers and 48 rotating challengers, offering one of the sport’s largest prize pools and guaranteeing payouts down to the top eight finishers at each meet. By providing more consistent opportunities and financial rewards, Johnson aims to remedy a system where most athletes struggle to earn a living unless they medal at major championships. The initiative has been widely welcomed by athletes who have long called for better organization and compensation in track and field. Johnson hopes GST will reinvigorate the sport by making athletes relevant and accessible between Olympic cycles.