Grand Slam Track is revolutionizing athletics with its innovative, year-round competition format, designed to showcase athletes and reignite fan passion beyond the Olympic spotlight.
A New Era for Athletics: Grand Slam Track
The traditional athletics meet has long been criticized for its lack of financial security and limited exposure outside of the Olympics. Former US gold medallist Michael Johnson is determined to change this with his new venture, Grand Slam Track.
Michael Johnson is a retired American sprinter who held the world record in the 200 meters and 400 meters events.
Born on September 13, 1967, in Dallas, Texas, he won four Olympic gold medals and eight World Championship gold medals throughout his career.
Johnson's impressive speed earned him the nickname 'The Fastest Man in the World.' He set multiple world records, including a record of 19.32 seconds in the 200 meters, which stood for over a decade.
The Problem with Traditional Athletics
For decades, track and field athletes have struggled to maintain visibility and financial security outside of the Olympic spotlight. Despite producing global superstars and spectacular performances, the sport has failed to provide a sustainable career path for its top athletes.
‘I spent a better part of my career dominating my events, being the fastest in the world, and having to explain to people that I was still racing,’ Johnson said. ‘My value as an athlete suffered because it was tied to one major event every four years.’
A New Solution: Grand Slam Track
Grand Slam Track is Johnson’s answer to this problem. The new series is designed to showcase athletes year-round and reignite fan passion beyond the Olympic spotlight.
A Grand Slam track is a high-speed, banked oval racing circuit used for various forms of motorsport.
The term 'grand slam' refers to the four major championships in golf, but in this context, it signifies the highest level of competition and thrill in racing.
These tracks are designed for high-performance vehicles, such as stock cars, IndyCars, or Formula 1 cars.
Grand Slam tracks typically feature steep banking, precise turns, and high-speed straights, making them a challenge for drivers to master.
‘We have athletes… who literally are taking on jobs at Walmart and suffering financially,’ Johnson said. ‘Then they look across to their counterparts in other sports and see someone signing a five-year, $100 million contract — and they wonder why not me?’
Innovation Key to Attracting Athletes and Audiences
The new competition has been built to close the gap between track and field and other major sports. Each athlete competes in two races at every meet, their primary event and a secondary event that complements it.
Athletes are divided into two groups: Racers, who compete across the full series for the Grand Slam title and earn a base salary, and challengers, who rotate in and out of individual meets to push the racers. Points are awarded at each event based on performance, with rankings carrying across all four meets to determine the overall Grand Slam champions.
A New Generation Embraces the Concept
French hurdler Sasha Zhoya represents the new generation of athletes ready to seize this opportunity. Still only 22, he saw Grand Slam Track as a natural fit for his ambitions the moment it was announced.
‘The concept behind it, where athletes have to double up on their main event and a secondary event, I thought that was really cool,’ Zhoya said. ‘It’s an opportunity for me to go back to my sprinting roots.’
A Slow Start but Building Toward a Sustainable Future
Launching a new league comes with challenges, as Michael Johnson knows all too well. Despite a slow start in Kingston, the Grand Slam Track is building toward a sustainable future.
‘We’ve had one competition,’ Johnson said. ‘It’s just the beginning. You don’t realize your potential in your first race. If there’s ever been a group of athletes that could carry the future of the sport forward, it’s this group.’
The Grand Slam Track is not just a new league; it’s an essential evolution for athletics. With its innovative format and commitment to fair compensation and visibility, it has the potential to reignite fan passion and create a sustainable career path for top athletes.
