Michael Johnson is one of the greatest athletes of all time. The 200m and 400m superstar won four Olympic gold medals (two of which came in world record times!) and eight World Championship golds (again with two world records). He was ranked as the world’s best 400m runner every year bar one from 1990 to 2000 and the world records he set in the 200m and 400m took some beating (he still holds the 4x400m world record alongside fellow Americans Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, and Butch Reynolds).
He is also the only man to win 200m and 400m golds at the same Olympics (Atlanta 1996). But now, after many years of a successful broadcasting career, Johnson is trying something new as his Grand Slam Track competition attempts to reinvigorate the sport of athletics.
What Is Grand Slam Track?
Athletics – aka track and field – is relatively popular with global viewers, but it falls behind other more watched sports like football, tennis and cricket. Athletics viewing also peaks at the Olympics and – to a lesser extent – during the World Championships. But legend of the sport Johnson feels there is untapped potential for athletics. Hence the creation of his Grand Slam Track events, which – as the name suggests – will feature only track events… sorry field fans!
As detailed on the Grand Slam Track site, there are four events – or “slams” – with each taking place in different locations on different dates. The opening slam gets underway on 4th April in Kingston, Jamaica, with further events in Miami (2nd to 4th May), Philadelphia (30th May to 1st June), and Los Angeles (27th to 29th June). And there’s a whole lot of prize money up for grabs ($12.5 million in total) for the selected athletes to compete for.
Race Groups
There are 48 athletes who have been contracted to commit to all four slams, and these 48 athletes will face a further 48 “challengers” at each slam. Each athlete must also compete in two events per slam, with eight athletes in each of the six race groups:
- Short sprints – 100m & 200m
- Short hurdles – 110m hurdles (men)/100m hurdles (women) & 100m
- Long sprints – 200m & 400m
- Long hurdles – 400m hurdles & 400m
- Short distance – 800m & 1,500m
- Long distance – 3,000m & 5,000m
Points System
Athletes will then win points based on their finishing positions in their two events:
- First: 12 points
- Second: 8 points
- Third: 6 points
- Fourth: 5 points
- Fifth: 4 points
- Sixth: 3 points
- Seventh: 2 points
- Eighth: 1 point
The points are totalled and the winner of any of the six Race Groups is declared the “Slam Champion”, while the overall winner based on the four Slams is the “Racer of the Year”. Note that in the event of tied points total, a “dominance score” – based on the relative median times – is used to determine the winners.
Which Athletes Are Taking Part in Grand Slam Track 2025?
As you might expect from a big-money, massively hyped event, some of the biggest names in track athletics will be present. Here are some of the notable inclusions:
- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone – Has won four Olympic golds (like Johnson), most recently for the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay at Paris 2024.
- Josh Kerr – GB’s 1,500m specialist who took silver at Paris 2024 and Bronze in Tokyo 2020, but landed gold at the 2023 World Championships.
- Daryll Neita – The British woman is among the main 48 (although fellow sprinter Dina Asher-Smith is amongst the challengers).
- Alison dos Santos – Brazilian 400m hurdle world champion and two-time Olympic bronze medal winner.
- Matthew Hudson-Smith – GB’s multiple European champion and silver medal winner at the Paris Olympics and the 2023 World Championship.
- Kenny Bednarek – Double Olympics silver medallist (2020, 2024) at 200m, he also picked up silver at the 2022 World Championships in the same event.
- Quincy Hall – Paris 400m gold medallist and World Champion.
- Cole Hocker – Won the 1,500m gold in Paris against the odds after he edged past the favourites Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
Speaking of Jakob Ingebrigtsenm the great Norwegian athlete is one of a few notable omissions from Grand Slam Track. Others include Dutch 400m hurdler Femke Bol, Britain’s Olympic hero Keely Hodgkinson (who is injured), and Athing Mu, who won the 800m at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Will Grand Slam Track Save Athletics… And Does it Need Saving?
#/media/File:Johnson,_Michael_D.jpg){kind=link}
It has long been acknowledged that millions will tune in to watch athletics when it features in the Olympics… but not too many will watch your average Diamond League meeting or national or regional championships. But is an event that essentially excludes half the sport (field events) likely to grow the popularity of athletics? That remains to be seen.
Johnson is unapologetic about focusing on track events, however, and said “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.” He doesn’t specify how he might measure when track athletics is indeed “saved” or what that might look like, but we’re certainly open to any new event that at least attempts to increase the exposure and viewing figures of almost any sport. Especially when it brings together some of the biggest and best in their field… or track!
On balance we certainly think the concept is a good one, focussing on hyper-elite fields and the most popular events. It is a shame that Johnson has not been able to bring together all the top stars, but injuries, prior commitments and other issues are always likely to mean at least some can’t make it. We predict and hope that this idea will work and ultimately grow, and we’ll certainly be tuning in.
Can I Watch Grand Slam Track in the UK?
Rivals on the track, but off it we’re in this together to elevate the sport @MJGold giving some last words of gratitude to the first 96 athletes to believe in the Grand Slam Track vision last night pic.twitter.com/K6ECpO7Lho
— Grand Slam Track (@GrandSlamTrack) April 4, 2025
Given the locations of the meetings, the timings are not brilliant for viewers in the UK wishing to tune in. Neither is the fact that they won’t be available on free TV. Instead, athletics fans will need to tune in to TNT Sports to watch coverage, but be prepared for a couple of late nights if you do.