The brand new league will host four annual Slams in 2025 and has a total of $12.6m prize money across the events

Michael Johnson is launching his new track league today (June 18), in an attempt to elevate the sports global footprint.

It will be known as Grand Slam Track and its main focus will be fan-focused storytelling, promotion of tracks biggest stars and undiscovered opportunities for fan engagement, sponsorship, and elite competition.

The league will host four annual Slams, in a similar format to golf or tennis, during the spring and summer season across four global cities.

The inaugural Slam will take place in April 2025, followed by the further three Slams over the summer months.

Los Angeles will serve as the global home for Grand Slam Track, and host one of the Slam events. There will be one further Slam that will take place in the United States and another two in international locations. They will all be over three days.

The other host cities will be announced and celebrated in their respective local markets later this summer.

I am delighted to finally unveil Grand Slam Track to the millions of track fans around the world, said Michael Johnson, the leagues founder who will serve as Commissioner.

We are excited to launch this new platform for the planets greatest racers in this sport we all love. Our team has worked tirelessly to design and build a product that will be loved by fans and provide opportunities for our racers that they truly deserve.

Were revolutionising the track landscape, allowing our sport to remain at the forefront of the sporting world year round, and pushing our superstar racers to break new ground in their personal storytelling, competitive success, and marketability. Grand Slam Track is going to take our sport to new heights, and we want you to come along for the ride.

The first athlete who will be competing is US Olympic Champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. She is a double Olympic champion and the world record-holder in the 400m hurdles.

Im honoured to be one of the first Racers in Grand Slam Track, said McLaughlin-Levrone. Michaels vision is clear, and hes exactly the leader this sport needs to break new ground. I am thrilled to be a part of this league and look forward to everything we have coming in the future.

I firmly believe that this is the step forward that track needs to take it to another level, and I cant wait to get to work with the team.

So, whats the format?

Each year, 48 athletes will be named to the league as GST Racers. These racers will be selected by the Grand Slam Track Racing Committee and based on a combination of factors to include the fastest and best racers in each race group, with a focus on fierce rivalries and thrilling competitive racing.

GST Racers commit to racing in all four Slams per year. They will receive an annual base compensation for racing in each Slam and are eligible for full prize money. These GST Racers will receive annual contracts, access to the GST content and data services team, inclusion in the league collective, group licensing and new revenue opportunities, plus access to world class athlete support services throughout the season.

GST Racers will also be compensated under contract to race and promote the league, while receiving additional marketing and branding support.

The remaining 48 racers will be known as GST Challengers and will be paid a set appearance fee to compete at individual Slams. GST Challengers are chosen by the Grand Slam Track Racing Committee based on a combination of factors including recent performances, plus the most intriguing athletes and matchups.

Racers and Challengers will be assigned to compete in one of the following categories, and will all race in two events during each Slam: short sprints (100m/200m), short hurdles (100m hurdles or 110m hurdles/100m), long sprints (200m/400m), long hurdles (400H/400m), middle distance (800m/1500m), or long distance (3000m/5000m).

All of the competitors final placement score will be determined by their combined finishing order between the two races.

In the event of a tie across the two events, it will be the athlete who had the quickest combined time across the two races who will be deemed the winner. The winner of each Slam group will take home $100,000 in prize money, and the eighth place competitor will earn $10,000. Grand Slam Track will have a total of $12.6m of prize money that will be awarded across the slams each year in addition to the base compensation and appearance fees paid to racers.

The focus of Grand Slam Track is on head-to-head competition, not winning times. There will be pacing lights. Each Slam is equally as important as any other, will have its own prize purse, and will be independently scored, with points and previous finishes not carrying over to the following Slams.

All racers will compete twice over the three-day event, and all Slam events will meet World Athletics regulations, with achieved marks being eligible for rankings and standards.

Racers will compete in their own sponsored kits, without traditional hip numbers or bibs. Racers and Challengers are encouraged to work with their sponsors to create customised kits, in their own desired style.

Grand Slam Track has no affiliation or sponsorship agreement with any shoe company; all shoe companies are considered to be important stakeholders and partners in the promotion of our racers.

Grand Slam Track has secured more than $30 million in financial commitments from investors and strategic partners for the launch of the league. Winners Alliance, a global, athlete-centric commercial solution and Johnsons operating partner, was the lead investor in the first fundraising close for the new venture.

The investment in the league will aid in Johnsons ultimate goal: to develop better engagement with fans by promoting track and fields biggest stars and reaching new audiences with unique, innovative storytelling.

You can also follow @GrandSlamTrack on all social media platforms or and visit grandslamtrack.com.