The inaugural Grand Slam Track event debuted in Kingston, Jamaica, from April 4 to 6, 2025, marking a significant milestone in professional track and field.
Spearheaded by Olympic legend Michael Johnson, this new league aims to elevate the sport’s global profile by offering substantial prize money and featuring head-to-head competitions among top-tier athletes.
Revolutionizing the Sport He Loves
Michael Johnson has long been vocal about the lack of commercial structure and consistent visibility in professional track and field. Despite being one of the most decorated sprinters in history, he knows firsthand how difficult it is for elite athletes to thrive outside of their Olympic years.
Grand Slam Track is his way of changing that–creating a professional, fan-centric league that can offer the same financial and cultural recognition to sprinters and runners that other leagues do for athletes in basketball, football, or soccer.
Superstar Athletes
The Kingston event showcased exceptional performances from renowned athletes. Gabby Thomas, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, clinched victory in the 200 meters with a time of 22.62 seconds and achieved a personal best in the 400 meters, securing her position as one of the event’s standout competitors.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the world record holder in the 400-meter hurdles, dominated her signature event, finishing in 52.76 seconds.
Attendance Challenge
Despite the high-caliber performances, the event faced challenges with attendance. Reports indicated that the main grandstands never reached 50% capacity, and the turns and back straight remained largely empty. Limited on-site parking and insufficient local marketing were cited as contributing factors to the low turnout.
The Future
Michael Johnson’s vision for Grand Slam Track is to create a fan-focused, athlete-centric league that brings track and field to the forefront of global sports. The series is set to continue with upcoming meets in Miami (May 2–4), Philadelphia (May 30–June 1), and Los Angeles (June 27–29), aiming to build on the momentum from Kingston and address initial challenges.
