Before reaching its final destination in Los Angeles, Grand Slam Track’s inaugural season came to an unexpected halt. As speculation swirled within the track and field world, financial concerns emerged as the primary cause. Still, the league’s CEO defended the decision, stating, “It is the right decision for the long-term sustainability of the league.” Additionally, 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.” Yet, his remarks sparked another debate: without top stars like reigning world champions Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson, could the league truly be called a success?
Michael Johnson took the mic once again, this time at the Sports Business Journal studio. While addressing the situation, he downplayed the absence of Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson, emphasizing that it wasn’t a deciding factor. “The reason why we were able to go out and get the CW, Peacock, WBD, all of these television broadcast partners that we have for over 200 countries around the world, they knew who hadn’t signed, and they ultimately signed with us and became our partners,” he stated. That, in itself, was a major achievement. But Johnson didn’t stop there — he also highlighted several other key elements that set Grand Slam Track apart from the rest.
The focus was on bringing track and field to television screens — something the sport had long struggled to achieve. Grand Slam Track broke that barrier. Highlighting the milestone, Michael Johnson stated, “We got it there, widely distributed and more widely distributed than any track product in the history of the sport.” And notably, this success came without Noah Lyles or Sha’Carri Richardson on the roster. According to Johnson, that was possible because GST featured the strongest lineup of athletes. He even claimed that over half of the competitors had earned medals at the Paris Olympics. But that raises a new question — does this mean Johnson sees no need for Noah or Sha’Carri in future editions?
Track & Field: Grand Slam Track Miami May 4, 2025 Miramar, FL, USA Michael Johnson reacts during the Grand Slam Track Miami at Ansin Sports Complex. Miramar Ansin Sports Complex Florida United States, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKirbyxLeex 20250504_hlf_al2_126
Not at all. In fact, the four-time Olympic gold medalist responded, “If the expectation is that I have to get all of the best athletes, every single one of them. And if you’re missing one, then you’re going to fail. That’s a ridiculous premise, right? That’s a ridiculous premise.” Clearly, Johnson understands the game he’s playing and has full confidence in the hand he’s holding. Meanwhile, the host reminded him to remember GST’s impact on track and field sports. It was about the World Athletics Ultimate Championship and moving the focus to track and field sports once again
Looking ahead, World Athletics is set to host a groundbreaking event in 2026, offering a record-breaking prize pool of US$10 million — the largest in track and field history. This upcoming competition could very well mirror the professional league model that Grand Slam Track introduced. When it comes to shifting the spotlight back onto the sport, Michael Johnson pointed to two key drivers: GST and Netflix’s Sprint series from last year. He also gave full credit to the athletes for the league’s success. “It’s been a great partnership with us, with Grand Slam Track and our athletes, because they need a platform,” Johnson said. “They need a platform to compete on. But they also need a platform from a support standpoint to build their brands and notoriety outside of just once every four years.” As for GST’s future, the outlook is promising—and the pieces are steadily falling into place.
Noah Lyles’s demand may have been fulfilled
Noah Lyles may have voiced his skepticism about Grand Slam Track (GST), but don’t mistake that for negativity. On the contrary, Lyles was rooting for its success from the start. Back in March, he made his hopes clear: “I would love nothing (more) than for this to be successful,” he said. “Because if it does, the amount of benefits it would provide, this could be a way for athletes to not have to only rely on World Championships, because you could be potentially be making more money consistently throughout the year.” But for that vision to become reality, Lyles believed GST needed heavy hitters backing it. And now, that moment has arrived.
In his first public statement since GST’s inaugural season ended early, Michael Johnson delivered a game-changing announcement: Grand Slam Track has partnered with Sundial Media & Technology Group in a groundbreaking alliance that could transform the entire track and field landscape. “We’re not just building a league—we’re building a movement,” Johnson declared. Well, this powerhouse collaboration brings together GST’s bold approach to competition with Sundial’s cultural influence, which includes brands like ESSENCE and Refinery29. With the 2026 season now fueled by a media and tech giant that doesn’t just reflect culture but shapes it, GST is stepping into an entirely new era.
And it’s not just about racing for medals anymore. Athletes will now be part of the business, with 10% of sponsorship revenue going directly into their pockets. The track stars won’t just be performers—they’ll be stakeholders in their own stories.
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