Sporting event Grand Slam Track postponed until athletes receive compensation for 2025
Struggles for Usain Bolt's Grand Slam Series in 2025
The Grand Slam series, launched as an alternative to the Diamond League series, faced significant challenges in 2025. The main cause of the financial struggle was a major investor failing to deliver the full $30 million commitment, resulting in $13 million in unpaid prize money and the suspension of the 2026 season.
Michael Johnson, who acted as CEO and commissioner of the series, publicly confirmed the league’s inability to pay athletes on time and suspended further seasons until debts are settled. This decision was met with frustration from athletes, including high-profile ones, who voiced their concerns over payment delays, which damaged trust in the league.
Despite the criticism, Johnson expressed his commitment to fixing the situation and rebuilding the sport’s credibility. The 2026 season has been officially put on hold pending resolution of the financial crisis and payment to the athletes. There are disputes about who made the decision to halt the season, with some claiming Johnson framed it as his own decision while others contest that narrative.
In the 2025 season, the series failed to recruit a host of top sprinting talent including the reigning men’s and women’s 100m champions Noah Lyles and Julien Alfred. Swathes of empty seats were seen at the opening meeting in Kingston. For the third meeting in Philadelphia, the program was cut from three days to two.
Despite these challenges, the series did manage to attract some high-profile athletes such as US Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas and 400m hurdles world record holder and double Olympic gold medallist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. Athletes were offered prize money of up to $100,000 for their overall standings after participating in two races at each meet.
However, the series did not manage to capture the imagination of fans as expected. Despite the promise of a more concentrated format with more head-to-head races between the world’s best athletes, the Grand Slam series struggled to attract a large fan base. In an effort to cut costs, Johnson canceled the fourth and final meeting in Los Angeles to avoid further losses and stabilize the company.
In summary, the Grand Slam series' immediate future remains uncertain as financial and trust issues are addressed before it can continue. Johnson cited circumstances beyond his control as the reason for the cancellation and the postponement of the 2026 season. The series, despite its offerings, did not manage to attract a large fan base, which contributed to its financial struggles.
The financial turmoil surrounding the Grand Slam series in 2025 affected more than just sports, as the absence of major sponsors and unpaid prize money highlighted the series' business challenges. Michael Johnson, the series' CEO and commissioner, admitted that the lack of funding in finance had a direct impact on the league's operations and the athletes' earnings, further fueling suspicion and mistrust among the sports community.
