Olympian Hudson-Smith says he’s unsure if he’s been paid what’s owed by Grand Slam Track

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Olympic silver medalist Matt Hudson-Smith expressed uncertainty about whether he has received the compensation owed to him by Grand Slam Track, the league that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year. The British athlete, who won a silver medal in the 400 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics, said he has "a memory like a fish" and was unsure if his dues had been settled.

Grand Slam Track, founded by four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson, aimed to offer salaries and appearance fees to top athletes competing in a four-event circuit in 2025. The league also provided prize money at each race. However, the series was abruptly halted when Grand Slam Track canceled its final meet in Los Angeles last June.

A bankruptcy filing in January revealed that Hudson-Smith was owed $147,500, while the total amount owed to over 300 individuals and companies reached $40 million. Eric Edwards Jr., a lesser-known hurdler, mentioned that the funds were meant to cover practical expenses such as rent payments.

Johnson claimed that he had distributed $11 million across three track meets, emphasizing that this amount exceeded any previously paid to track athletes for competing.