Grand Slam Track™ Launches, Aiming to Revolutionize Professional Athletics

On April 4, 2025, the inaugural season of Grand Slam Track™ commenced at Kingston's National Stadium in Jamaica, marking a significant milestone in professional athletics. Founded by four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson, the league aims to revolutionize track and field by offering substantial financial incentives and increased media exposure.

Grand Slam Track™ introduces a novel competition format featuring 48 elite athletes, including stars like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas, competing across four events in Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. With a total prize pool exceeding $12.6 million and media partnerships with The CW Network and NBC Sports, the league seeks to elevate track and field's profile beyond the Olympic cycle.

The league's structure comprises four annual "Slams," each spanning three days of competition. Athletes are divided into six event groups, such as short sprints (100m/200m) and long distance (3000m/5000m), competing in two races per event. The winner of each event group receives $100,000, with prizes awarded down to eighth place. This format emphasizes head-to-head competition without pacers or pacing lights, focusing on athlete matchups rather than times.

In February 2025, Grand Slam Track™ announced media rights partnerships with The CW Network and NBC Sports. The CW serves as the exclusive U.S. broadcast home for weekend races, while Peacock, operated by NBC Sports, streams all events, including exclusive Friday coverage. This collaboration provides NBC Sports with a new platform in track and field following the end of its Diamond League streaming deal. The CW, known for sports broadcasts such as ACC football and basketball, and NASCAR's Xfinity Series, adds these track events to its lineup.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the Olympic champion and 400 meters hurdles world record holder, was the first athlete to sign with Grand Slam Track™, highlighting the league's appeal to top-tier talent. Gabby Thomas, a triple Olympic gold medalist, adds significant star power to the league's roster. Other notable athletes include Alison Dos Santos, Muzala Samukonga, and Clément Ducos, all of whom competed at the Paris Olympic Games.

Michael Johnson's mission is to keep track in front of fans beyond the Olympic years and to set up more showdowns between the sport's top athletes. He envisions Grand Slam Track™ becoming the "Formula One of athlete racing," aiming to revolutionize the sport by providing better compensation and more consistent exposure for athletes.

The league's substantial prize pool addresses longstanding concerns about inadequate financial incentives in track and field, potentially setting a new standard for athlete earnings. By securing prominent broadcast and streaming partnerships, Grand Slam Track™ aims to increase the sport's visibility, attracting new fans and sponsors.

While track and field has traditionally seen peak interest during the Olympics, efforts like Grand Slam Track™ seek to maintain engagement during off-years. This initiative is part of a broader trend to elevate the sport's profile and financial viability outside the Olympic cycle.

Grand Slam Track™, under Michael Johnson's leadership, represents a significant development in track and field, with the potential to reshape the sport's competitive structure, athlete compensation, and global visibility.