Michael Johnson breaks silence on Grand Slam Track financial disaster

Michael Johnson has opened up about the financial turmoil experienced during the short-lived Grand Slam Track (GST), describing it as the most stressful period of his life. The four-time Olympic champion was at the helm of the league that ran its inaugural season in 2025, hosting events in Kingston, Jamaica, and cities across the United States. The inaugural meet in Kingston drew a sparse crowd, while the final event in Los Angeles was cancelled, leading to GST's bankruptcy in December 2025.

In March 2026, GST's creditors accused Johnson of secretly paying himself $500,000 (£370,000) days before the season's collapse. However, Johnson vehemently denied the claim, explaining that the payment was a reimbursement for credit card charges incurred due to significant cash-flow issues. He had to cover the expenses for 96 athletes, their companions, and hotel accommodations for 170 people in Miami and Philadelphia.

Johnson also loaned the company $2 million (£1.5 million) to ensure the athletes were taken care of and forgave his own salary.

The financial turmoil weighed heavily on Johnson, causing him to sleep very little and worrying about the athletes' faith in him. He candidly admitted that this stress level surpassed even the rigors of Olympic sprinting, where a single performance is delivered in seconds and only once every four years. Despite the traumatic experience, Johnson remains an influential figure in the athletics world, having been a staple of the BBC's coverage for many years.

He is open to the possibility of returning to BBC in the future, saying, "We'll see where I am next year."