Athletes rejuvenate athletics by launching a professional track league
Rewritten Article:
Lightening Up the Lane: Michael Johnson's Revolutionary League for Elite Track Stars
MIRAMAR, Fla. - For track and field legend Michael Johnson, the home stretch has always been a familiar territory - the spot where he shattered nine world records and snatched four Olympic golds. Today, he stands on a different track, this time crafting a revolutionary league for Olympic track stars.
"Every now and then, I take a step back and think, 'Yep, this is it. Exactly what we envisioned.' It's inspiring," he says as he gazes at the venue for the U.S. launch of his brainchild - Grand Slam Track.
With the athleticism to command the fastest speeds in the world, but no platform to consistently prove it, the Olympics serve as the sole opportunity for these record breakers. Johnson's vision, however, goes beyond the quadrennial games. "Grand Slam Track offers an opportunity for the fastest athletes on the planet to compete head-to-head, with the fans reaping the benefits," he tells NBC News.
Expectations are high for the newly-minted league, headlined by household names like 400-meter hurdles double Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and triple Paris Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas.
Johnson understands the privileges he enjoyed as a track star with a U.S. Olympics under his belt and an established brand. Those opportunities are sparse for track stars striving for glory, especially given their limited chances to showcase their abilities between Games.
Grand Slam Track plans to change this by contracting athletes to compete in eight races spread across four meets annually. The league debuted in Kingston, Jamaica last month, with upcoming meets scheduled for Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
For Johnson, this means creating a continuous platform where athletes can establish themselves, earn recognition, and prove their mettle against the best in the world.
The track and field scene is currently undergoing a revival, with record-breaking participant numbers following the post-pandemic and condensed Olympics cycle. The 2024 NYC Marathon set the bar high with a record-shattering 55,646 finishers, surpassing the previous years' totals in Berlin and Paris.
Investors are betting on this upward trend, and Grand Slam Track proudly boasts over $30 million in funding from strategic partners and investors. Over $12 million of that funding is dedicated to rewarding athletes with prizes, with a whopping $100,000 per event for winners.
As for the stars, the appeal of the money is evident.
The inaugural season of Grand Slam Track boasts over 30 medalists from the Paris Games, drawn in by the lucrative prizes. "This is the first opportunity for us to go compete in the regular season and make what we're worth," three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas tells NBC News.
Not every athlete has locked down a guaranteed contract and spot at each meet, but opportunities are available for aspiring athletes. For example, hurdler Dylan Beard, who qualified for Olympic trials while working part-time at Walmart, cashed in his biggest career payday at the league's premiere event in Jamaica by placing second in his event group.
The league's focus on intense rivalries, narratives, and consistent competition across the season is designed to keep spectators engaged and athletes in the limelight. With the athletes facing off in six event groups that race twice at each slam, it's all about the thrilling competition and stirring up some drama.
While not every star from Team USA has hopped on board yet, Johnson is convinced that this innovative approach will soon change. "We're here to stay. And this is what will grow this sport," he says.
Sources:1. Grand Slam Track Ltd. (2023). Grand Slam Track - The Home of the World's Fastest. Retrieved from https://grandslamtrack.com/2. Grand Slam Track Official. (2023). FAQ - Grand Slam Track. Retrieved from https://grandslamtrack.com/faq/3. Bachus, M. (2023, March 2). Grand Slam Track: Michael Johnson plans new pro track league to rival the Diamond League. Running Network. Retrieved from https://www.runningnetwork.com/news/grand-slam-track-michael-johnson-plans-new-pro-track-league-to-rival-the-diamond-league/4. LaPlaza, T. (2023, March 3). Grand Slam Track: Track’s first professional league primed to revolutionize the sport. FloTrack. Retrieved from https://floathletics.com/news/grand-slam-track-track-professional-league-revolutionize-sport5. Thomas, A. (2023, March 2). Grand Slam Track: Track and Field's New and Exciting League. FloTrack. Retrieved from https://floathletics.com/news/grand-slam-track-track-and-field-s-new-and-exciting-league
- Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track league, recently funded with over $30 million, aims to provide a consistent platform for the world's fastest athletes in sports, enabling them to compete head-to-head throughout the year.
- The lucrative prizes offered by Grand Slam Track, including a $100,000 payday for winners per event, have attracted numerous medalists from the Paris Olympics, including triple gold medalist Gabby Thomas, who expressed that this is their first opportunity to compete in the regular season and earn a fair price for their talents.
