Michael Johnson Opens Up on Grand Slam Track’s Struggles

Michael Johnson, Olympic legend and founder of Grand Slam Track, has broken his silence in a heartfelt message that lays bare the pain of building something beautiful—and watching it falter.

In a series of emotional posts addressed to athletes, coaches, agents, media, partners, and fans, Johnson reflects on the paradox of creating a platform that elevated track and field, while feeling like he let down the very people he set out to serve.

‘It is incredibly difficult to live with the reality that you’ve built something bigger than yourself while simultaneously feeling like you’ve let down the very people you set out to help,’ he wrote.

Grand Slam Track was born from a bold vision: to give athletes the respect, visibility, and compensation they deserve. Johnson, himself a former athlete, understood the sacrifices—years of training for seconds of glory—and wanted to build a stage worthy of those moments.

And for a time, it worked. The league delivered unforgettable races, thrilling matchups, and a renewed sense of purpose. Athletes brought their fire. Fans responded with love. The dream was alive.

But behind the scenes, cracks began to show.

Funding that had been promised never arrived. The team scrambled to find solutions, even after postponing the Los Angeles meet. They held on to hope. But eventually, they had to make the painful decision to end the season early—to stop the bleeding and begin the long road to recovery.

‘We promised that athletes would be fairly and quickly compensated. Yet, here we are struggling with our ability to compensate them,’ Johnson admitted.

The emotional toll is clear. Johnson speaks not just as a founder, but as someone who knows what it means to fight through setbacks. He acknowledges the damage to trust, the disappointment felt by athletes and vendors, and the weight of unmet expectations.

But he also promises change.

‘We are not just addressing the immediate problem; we are putting systems and partnerships in place to make sure it never happens again.’

The Nigerian duo of Favour Ofili and Udodi Onwuzurike participated in the competition and could be among the athletes owed prize monies.