Michael Johnson’s inaugural Grand Slam Track has now secured a broadcast deal, a key component that had made Noah Lyles hesitant to sign.
American track legend Michael Johnson has hit back at critics of the inaugural Grand Slam Track league, particularly in light of its latest breakthrough, a major broadcast deal.
Despite the absence of Olympic champion Noah Lyles, who has been among the league’s skeptics, the event continues to gain momentum.
Johnson, the founder of the league, has successfully signed some of the biggest names in track and field, including Olympic champions Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, as well as Olympic medalists Kenny Bednarek and Fred Kerley and Jamaican sprint senastion Oblique Seville.
However, the absence of Lyles, arguably the most recognizable sprinter today, remains a notable gap in the league’s roster.
Michael Johnson has fired back at Noah Lyles & Rai Benjamin for doubting Grand Slam Track’s credibility after securing a major broadcast deal ahead of its Kingston debut!
Lyles had previously expressed skepticism over the league’s lack of a broadcasting partner, citing this as his reason for not committing.
However, the Grand Slam Track league has now secured a deal with The CW network for televised coverage, alongside a streaming partnership with Peacock.
Speaking to Talk Sport, Johnson left the door open for Lyles to join the league, saying, “We have 48 challengers that we now will assign for each individual slam, they can come in if they want. So yeah, we’ll continue talking to Noah.”
Johnson also made it clear that while Lyles would be a valuable addition, the league does not necessarily need him.
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Sifan Hassan has explained why she will need hefty appearance fee and prize money before committing to Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track.
“But look, for me, the 48 Olympic champions, world champions—the fastest people in the world that we’ve signed to this league—they’re all accomplished in their own right. That’s enough,” he explained.
“If we have nobody else but those athletes, this is the first time we’ve ever had the fastest together. We don’t need anyone else. We will take all of the fastest people, but we don’t have to have them.”
Addressing Lyles’ criticism of track and field’s visibility outside the Olympics, Johnson emphasized the league’s efforts to change that.
“One of the things that Noah was rightly complaining about is the fact that outside the Olympics, it’s hard for people to find this product, this sport, because it’s not on network TV,” Johnson acknowledged.
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Tyreek Hill reignites his rivalry with Noah Lyles, claiming the Olympic champion is afraid of being beaten as fans eagerly await their long-delayed race.
“Not only are we on free-to-air network TV on CW, but we are simultaneously streaming on Peacock. There may not be any sport in existence right now that is more accessible than Grand Slam Track,” he added.
Should Lyles decide to sign with the league, fans could be in for an electrifying showdown against rivals such as Kenny Bednarek, Fred Kerley and Oblique Seville.
Lyles has already begun his season on a high note, securing a 60m indoor victory at the New Balance Grand Prix on February 2.
The league’s first event is set for Kingston, Jamaica, in April—perfectly aligning with Lyles’ outdoor season preparations. With homegrown Jamaican star Seville also in the mix, this event could provide a compelling matchup.
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The American sprinter used the opportunity to remind his fiancée all her wins of the past year as she looks forward to more success.
Following Kingston, the Grand Slam Track league will move to Miami in May, Philadelphia in late May to early June, and conclude with a final slam in Los Angeles in late June.
With a robust lineup of track stars and a historic broadcast deal in place, Johnson’s Grand Slam Track league appears poised to reshape the sport’s landscape, with or without Noah Lyles.
