Michael Johnson once said, “I want the races to mean something…I want to put on a show. I want to show my fans why I am the greatest.” His words reflect the mindset of many athletes who compete not just for medals, but to showcase their speed, form, and unique racing style. If a competition doesn’t provide that opportunity, some athletes choose to skip it.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone often faces criticism for not racing frequently enough. However, Johnson, a four-time Olympic champion, isn’t swayed by the backlash. In an interview with Citius Mag’s Chris Chavez, he acknowledged fans’ frustrations, saying, “She doesn’t race enough. She doesn’t like to race. And that upsets us as fans.” When Johnson himself asked McLaughlin why she skips races, she gave the same response that sprinter Noah Lyles and even Johnson himself once gave: “I want to, but I want it to mean something.”
Some questioned Johnson’s decision to bring McLaughlin into his newly launched ‘Grand Slam Track’ league in 2024. One person even told him, “She was the wrong person to go get.” Johnson, unimpressed by the critique, sarcastically responded, “Oh, so I should go get the person that actually always runs and runs every single race to prove that?” To him, that argument didn’t hold weight. Instead, he explained that his league aims to showcase athletes not just in races but also through greater exposure outside of competition. “It is putting our athletes out there on a stage where the world can see them,” he said, emphasizing why McLaughlin was an ideal fit for the project.
Since its announcement in 2024, ‘Grand Slam Track’ has drawn several top athletes, including Gabby Thomas, Fred Kerley, Quincy Hall, and Cole Hocker. Johnson frequently cites McLaughlin as an example, even on Twitter. When Erin Brown, the creator of ‘Rolled in Track Professional Hater’, questioned why the highest-earning athletes often skip meets while claiming financial concerns, Johnson pointed out the flawed structure of track and field contracts and event incentives. Agreeing with a fan’s comment that the system itself discourages participation, Johnson proposed a solution:
“Someone should create a league that contractually guarantees athletes race against their rivals by incentivizing them with base compensation and unprecedented prize money and major TV.”
By “major TV,” he meant better global streaming coverage. And in his opinion, McLaughlin would be the first to sign up for such a league. Now, with just a month until ‘Grand Slam Track’ officially kicks off, the big question is: how successful will it be?
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