"There's too much at stake" - Michael Johnson opens up on not 'rushing' to find the right broadcaster for Grand Slam track

By Animesh Pandey

Modified Sep 20, 2024 05:48 GMT

Michael Johnson is well prepared for his upcoming Grand Slam Track League, which will commence in April 2025. The former Olympic champion recently opened up on the preparations for the same in a conversation with Citius Mag.

In the interview, Michael Johnson revealed how he is pulling out all stops to ensure that the Grand Slam Track League reaches out to the audience. In a recent post on his X account [formerly Twitter], Johnson wrote:

"We won't be rushed! We can't be rushed. There's too much at stake and we are focused on long term success."

In the same post, Michael Johnson also shared a portion of his interview with Citius Mag, where he mentioned about the need for the 'right' broadcaster.

Johnson said,

".......The good thing for us, saw it from the very beginning, is that all of the television, potential partners out there globally, streamers, linear television, broadcast partners as well, are interested. They get it, they understand what we're trying to build. For us, we make sure that we partner with the right organization that will help us build the audience in the next few years.."

Joining hands with top athlete licensing and sponsorship company Winners Alliance, Michael Johnson announced this league in February 2024. This would be a fan-focused athletics league, which will be held four times, and will initially include only track events. Prizes worth $12.6 million will be distributed at the inaugural Grand Slam Track League, compared to the $9.24 million Wanda Diamond League has to offer for their upcoming season in 2025.

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Michael Johnson on transforming track events

Michael Johnson of the USA celebrating after winning the 400m event at the 1997 IAAF World Athletics Championships [Image Source: Getty]

Even when he was a professional track athlete, Michael Johnson focused on transforming the world of track and field in the best way possible. With his world records in the 200m, 300m, and 400m events, succeeded to an extent that they remained unbroken for more than a decade. He also won four gold medals at the Summer Olympics from 1992 to 2000, and eight gold medals at the World Championships, from 1991 to 1999.

A few months before the Paris Olympics, the former Olympic champion expressed his optimism about the current lot of athletes, as he wrote on his X account [formerly Twitter],

"Track is in pretty good hands the next few years!

NOW: Noah, Sydney, Sha’Carri, Karston, Shericka, Grant, Athing, Faith, Jakob.

NEXT: Letsile, Rhasidat, Julian, Erryon, Yared.

Who am I missing?"

Michael Johnson is in no way against the Diamond League. He only wants to enhance its status and make the world of track and field more popular among sports enthusiasts. In an interview conducted around February 2024, Michael Johnson revealed his motive behind the Grand Slam Track League. He doesn't want the hype around track and field to be restricted just around the Olympic Games and wants athletics to create its own legacy like basketball, soccer, and other such popular sports.