Russell, Samba-Mayela and Camacho-Quinn sign for athletics’ first Grand Slam events!
Olympics 100m hurdles champion, Masai Russell has joined her fellow medalists at the Paris 2024 Olympics, silver medalist, Cyrena Samba-Mayela and bronze medal winner, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn to sign for the Grand Slam track league, a new track and field event launched last June by 1996 Olympics 200/400m champion, Michael Johnson.
The event, patterned after the Tennis Grand Slams, has a total of $12.6m prize money across the events with the inaugural taking place in April next year and will be followed by three more Slams over the summer months with Los Angeles serving as the global home for Grand Slam Track, and host one of the Slam events.
Russell claimed gold on her Olympic debut and became the fourth American to stand on the top of the 100m hurdles podium this century after Joanna Hayes, Dawn Harper and Brianna Rollins.
Russell, 24, was delighted to be part of what she thinks will lift the profile of track and field worldwide.
‘Signing with Grand Slam Track is a great moment for me personally and professionally. The vision for this league is clear – putting fans and athletes first and that’s something I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a part of.
‘Coming off the Olympics, I want to continue regularly competing at the highest level, against the best in the world and I’m certain that Grand Slam Track is the place for that. I’m delighted that Cyréna and Jasmine are joining too, and I’ll look forward to seeing them line up next to me on the track four times next year,’ said Russell who holds a lifetime best of 12.25 in the event.
Like Russell, Samba-Mayela also expressed her delight to be part of the event.
‘This is a very special opportunity for me. I am proud to be the first French athlete to sign with Grand Slam Track and look forward to representing my country in this new and exciting league. Michael’s vision for the sport’s future is huge and I’m delighted to be able to be a part of it.
‘Giving the athletes more freedom to express ourselves and grow our brands is a great step forward in the track world and the fans will reap the benefits of this. Knowing that I will race against Jasmine and Masai four times each year is fantastic and I look forward to continuing to test myself against formidable opposition.’
Camacho-Quinn also shared in the sentiments expressed by Russell and Samba-Mayela.
‘I am delighted to announce my participation in Grand Slam Track. Representing Puerto Rico on the new biggest stage in global track will be an honour for me.
‘As soon as I heard about the league, the concept and the desire to keep track at the forefront of the sports world, I knew I had to be a part of it. I can’t wait to get started and am looking forward to facing Masai and Cyréna at all of the Slams next year.’
Nigerians will be hoping some of her superstar athletes like Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili and Ese Brume will be signed on too in the first ever athletics grand slams.
