Michael Johnson announced Grand Slam Track in February 2024. (Image by Getty)

Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track Vs Diamond League Prize money comparison: A look at the $20m+ prize purse for the 2025 season

Modified Sep 19, 2024 07:18 GMT

Following the Paris Olympics and the conclusion of the 2024 Diamond League Series, fans are poised to witness the highly-anticipated Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track League. The series is slated to be held from April 2025 to September 2025.

Johnson's Grand Slam Track League will offer lucrative prize money to the athletes compared to the Diamond League. While the Diamond League series issued a total amount of $9.24m as the prize money, the Grand Slam Track will distribute $12.6m.

The Diamond League offers $30,000 to the athlete dominating any event in the final. The former Olympic champion's league promises to offer $1,00,000 to the first-place finisher in any event. The prize money for second place also surpasses that of the Diamond League with the former offering $50,000 and the latter $12,000.

Athletes settling in third place in any event at the Diamond League receive $7,000, while the third-place finishers at the Grand Slam Track League will collect $30,000. The four-time Olympic gold medalist has always been vocal about boosting spectators' interest in the track and field events and the League reflects his dedication to elevate the sport.

The Comparison of prize money for the Diamond League Series and Grand Slam Track League is provided below:

Position	Diamond League prize money	Grand Slam Track prize money
1	$30,000	$1,00,000
2	$12,000	$50,000
3	$7,000	$30,000
4	$4'000	$25,000
5	$2'500	$20,000
6	$2'000	$15,000
7	$1'500	$12,000
8	$1'000	$10,000

“I built Grand Slam Track in the mold of the four Tennis Grand Slams" - Michael Johnson draws similarities between Grand Slam Track and Tennis Grand Slams

Michael Johnson at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Getty Images)

Michael Johson formed the Grand Slam Track League as a replica of the Tennis Grand Slams that are held throughout the year.

In an interview with TMZ Sports, he noted that the league will generate anticipation and compelling stories similar to major golf tournaments and the Olympics. He also added that, unlike the Olympics, which occur once in four years, the league will take place four times a year, offering fans with frequent electrifying showdowns.

“I built Grand Slam Track in the mold of the four Tennis Grand Slams,” Michael Johnson said. “That's where you know you've got the best of the best athletes, high stakes, Jeopardy, the stories, people anticipating, and we saw that you know you see that every four times a year for golf majors, you see that four times a year for the tennis Majors, Grand Slams and we saw that for the Olympics.”

"Now everybody wants to watch and then it's a thrilling race," Michael Johnson added. "Only one can win so that creates compelling drama and people are excited about it and so we're creating that now four times a year as opposed to once every four years."

Elite athletes, including Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Josh Kerr, Cole Hocker and Fred Kerley will headline the event.