The trouble does not seem to come to an end for Michael Johnson and Grand Slam Track. As if the athletes demanding their pay over social media, track analysts asking the big questions, and the criticism coming from other athletes were not enough! Now, an American journalist has also entered the boat.
Grand Slam Track took to X to post a letter from the director himself, where he admitted that despite their vision to elevate the sport and athletes, they are currently unable to pay athletes, agents, and vendors as promised due to unexpected funding issues. But he also called the league a success.
In the letter posted on the account on August 15, a part read, “They (fans, racers, and challengers) believed in what we were building… Many have shared just how much fun they’ve had competing with us this season. We were all in the arena together, building this amazing thing. That is success to me.” But calling Grand Slam Track a success did not sit right with one lawyer…
Quoting the post made by GST, Matt Lawton, Chief Sports Correspondent, The Times, tweeted that very same day, “This is not good. It damages the sport as well as the athletes. Johnson certainly needs to stop calling it a success. It’s a mess.”
Lawton is a big sports fan, and he has been interested in GST. He once reported statements made by GST and even tweeted about the deadline of GST’s Kingston payments, wondering if that had been done yet.
This is not good. It damages the sport as well as the athletes. Johnson certainly needs to stop calling it a success. It’s a mess. https://t.co/0UDhj1i8hu
— Matt Lawton (@Lawton_Times) August 15, 2025
Despite the LA Slam getting cancelled, and athletes going unpaid after the $30 million sponsor backed out, Michael Johnson has never doubled down on his word that Grand Slam Track is a success. Addressing the world after the league was cancelled, he said, “We feel that we’ve proven everything that we needed to this year in the first three slams, and so we will go ahead now and conclude our season and focus on the 2026 season.” In short, he calls the season a pilot that achieved its core objectives.
But while he did mention that they will focus on the 2026 season, it might not happen.
Michael Johnson might not conduct the 2026 Grand Slam Track
When Michael Johnson launched Grand Slam Track, his goal was to give track athletes more visibility outside the Olympics and to make sure they were paid fairly, with winners promised up to $100,000. At the outset, the organization said it had secured $30 million in funding. Ultimately, this had to come from the sponsor who backed out of it shortly after the Kingston meet. This is what led to the GST failing to pay the athletes and for whatnot.
Front Office Sports reported last month that Grand Slam Track owes the athletes about $13 million in a combination of prize money and appearance fees for the events.
And now, to put an end to this debt, Micahel Johnson has made a decision. Grand Slam Track circuit will not take place in 2026 until athletes awaiting prize money for this year are paid.
“While I am no stranger to setbacks and overcoming obstacles, this current situation of not being able to pay our athletes and partners has been one of the most difficult challenges I’ve ever experienced. The 2026 season will not happen until these obligations are met – and that is my number one priority,” he stated.
Given Johnson’s words and everything else, do you think this issue will be fixed by 2026 and GST will turn around?
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