Michel Johnson Leaves Gabby Thomas, Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Co Worried with Shocking Grand Slam Track Update

Grand Slam Track founder and Olympic legend Michael Johnson has admitted the new athletics championship is struggling financially and unable to pay its athletes until new investors are secured.

The league, currently in its inaugural season, owes millions of dollars in appearance fees and prize money.

The final meet of the season, scheduled for Los Angeles in June, was cancelled due to financial difficulties. Johnson's agreement with UCLA, the host venue, proved unsustainable, with projected losses exceeding $2 million had the event proceeded.

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In a statement, Johnson acknowledged the hardship caused by the lack of promised funding.

“It is incredibly difficult to live with the reality that you've built something bigger than yourself while simultaneously feeling like you've let down the very people you set out to help. However, I have to own that,” Johnson said.

“And yes, the cruellest paradox in all of this is we promised that athletes would be fairly and quickly compensated. Yet, here we are struggling with our ability to compensate them.”

Johnson explained that the organization was "devastated" by the funding shortfall and worked tirelessly to find a solution, receiving positive signs until the LA postponement.

“We were devastated when we learned we would not receive the funding committed to us. We worked tirelessly alongside our investors and board to find a quick solution to the problem. Up until and even after the LA postponement, we were getting positive signs that a solution was close,” he added.

The league boasted a roster of star athletes, including Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Kenny Bednarek, Gabby Thomas, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Josh Kerr, and Dina Asher-Smith, competing in combined events like the 100m and 200m sprints. Prize money ranged from $10,000 for eighth place to $100,000 for the winners.

While intended to revitalize the sport, the competition's focus solely on track events drew criticism. Johnson defended this choice, stating, "I am going to save what I think I can save. I think I can save track, I don’t think I can save track and field.”

However, slow ticket sales, coupled with disappointing sponsorship and broadcast revenues, have hampered the league's financial viability. The cancellation of the Los Angeles event will reportedly save organizers around £2.2 million in prize money and travel expenses.

Attendance has been inconsistent, with some events held in half-empty stadiums. The Philadelphia meet fared better, selling nearly 30,000 tickets over two days after the schedule was condensed from the three-day format used in Kingston and Miami.

The poor turnout in Jamaica prompted organizers to reassess potential locations for the 2026 season, including European cities.

Johnson emphasized his commitment to resolving the financial issues and implementing new systems to prevent similar problems in the future. He stated that the 2026 season is contingent on meeting the league's