Michael Johnson Says Grand Slam Track Missed Payments to Athletes amid Funding Issues

Track legend Michael Johnson confirmed that Grand Slam Track is "struggling with our ability to compensate" its athletes amid uncertainty over the league's future.

"We were devastated when we learned we would not receive the funding committed to us," Johnson said Friday. "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. However, we determined the best thing to do would be to conclude our season early to avoid further losses and start the lengthy process of stabilizing the company to get back on track."

The four-time Olympic gold medalist went on to say that a 2026 season "will not happen" until Grand Slam Track's financial obligations are met. He said he has "spent the last several weeks meeting with excited investors who see the value of Grand Slam Track and believe, just as we do, that track deserves a prominent place in global sports."

Johnson first laid out the vision for Grand Slam Track in February 2024 and said the venture received more than $30 million in funding that April. Four-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and 2024 200-meter champion Gabby Thomas were among the stars who signed on for the inaugural season.

Concerns rose when Grand Slam Track canceled its final event this year, which was set to take place in Los Angeles.

At the time of the decision, Johnson said it was "rooted in a belief that we have successfully achieved the objectives we set out to in this pilot season." Front Office Sports' Daniel Kaplan also cited a source who downplayed the extent to which the company's finances influenced the cancellation.

Margaret Fleming of Front Office Sports followed up to report on July 3 that Grand Slam Track had an outstanding debt of $13 million to its athletes in prize money and appearance fees.