Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track: $12.8M Debt Leaves Athletes in Shock!

Kingston, Jamaica - The recent turmoil surrounding Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track (GST) has left the track and field community buzzing with concern and confusion. Launched in June 2024, GST aimed to innovate the sport with an impressive $12.6 million prize pool and top awards of $100,000 for winners. Johnson envisioned a league that put athletes first, with head-to-head racing across various events held in notable locations like Jamaica, Miami, and Philadelphia. However, as excitement built with the inaugural season kicking off in April 2025, the landscape quickly turned cloudy.

Reports of unpaid prize money have surfaced, indicating GST owes athletes an astonishing $12.8 million. Rising track star Noah Williams expressed disappointment over the league’s financial instability, casting doubt on its promises of timely payments. This concern is further amplified by rumors of GST potentially filing for bankruptcy to evade lawsuits from frustrated athletes, a scenario which would severely jeopardize the league’s future. Essentially Sports reports that executive exits and restructuring efforts have emerged in light of these troubling developments.

The Cancellation of the LA Finale

The final meet, which was to take place in Los Angeles on June 28-29, was unexpectedly canceled in early June, citing lease issues and a need for „long-term stability.“ This cancellation not only deprived athletes of a chance to compete for crucial prize money but was also a significant cost-saving measure, as it reportedly saved GST about $3 million. As Keep Going Run highlighted, many athletes had already expressed concerns over receiving payments for their performances, which they expected to have concluded with the final event.

Among those awaiting their dues are prominent athletes like Brazilian star Alison dos Santos, who is still waiting for a $250,000 check, and Kenyon Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who remains optimistic despite not receiving his prize money. U.S. distance runner Nico Young, after setting an American outdoor record in the 5,000m, faces uncertainty regarding his payments as well. Meanwhile, Canadian athlete Charles Philibert-Thiboutot has received word that his prize money is on the way, demonstrating a spectrum of experiences among competitors in GST.

Unraveling Financial Issues

Further complications arise as athletes, many of whom have not seen a dime of their performance fees, become increasingly impatient. Reports indicate that only appearance fees from the Kingston meet have been disbursed, and that too only to agents who acted promptly. According to Marathon Handbook, the league began its season with a robust budget of approximately $30 million, but with over $13 million in prize money and appearance fees yet to be paid, trust in GST is eroding at an alarming pace.

The cancellation of events and the delayed payments have prompted athletes to reach out for clarity. Some have contacted World Athletics, while others participated in a Zoom call with Johnson himself, demanding transparency on their financial fates. Despite these uncertainties, GST leadership continues to claim that payment delays are mainly due to drug testing process issues, which they argue differ from the industry standards typically upheld in the Diamond League.

While optimism remains among some athletes and Johnson himself, the future of GST hangs in a delicate balance. With restructuring on their minds and the wrestling of financial pressures ahead, only time will tell if this ambitious league can turn around its fortunes and regain the trust of the athletes it promises to uplift.