Gabby Thomas on major track & field issues that Grand Slam Track will address

Olympic champion Gabby Thomas has opened up about how Grand Slam Track can solve some major issues in track.

Track and field has long been one of the most popular and widely followed sports in the world, with millions of fans tuning in to watch the Olympics and major championships.

However, despite this popularity, the sport faces several structural and financial challenges that hinder its growth.

American sprinter Gabby Thomas believes that Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track (GST) league is the solution to one of the biggest issues in the sport.

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With the league set to debut in April in Jamaica, Thomas has emphasized how it can bring consistency to competitions and ensure that top athletes participate regularly, creating a more engaging experience for fans and a more stable career path for athletes.

One of the major problems in track and field is the absence of a structured, year-round league that fans can follow.

Unlike other professional sports such as basketball or football, where competitions take place consistently throughout the year, track and field operates on a disjointed schedule with events spread out across different locations and governing bodies.

This makes it difficult for casual fans to stay engaged and follow their favorite athletes.

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During an interview on A Touch More With Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, Thomas pointed out that there is a strong public interest in track and field, but the sport has not capitalized on this enthusiasm by creating a centralized, easily accessible competition format.

She highlighted how GST aims to fill this gap by providing a structured series of meets that take place regularly, giving fans a consistent destination to watch the sport.

“I mean, the interest is there. People are tuning in, they know who we are, and they want to watch. Track is so simple—everyone can understand it. It’s just such a perfect fan experience. So why isn’t there a simple place for people to go watch it?” she said as quoted by Essentially Sport

By introducing a league-style format, GST can make track and field more accessible to a broader audience, allowing it to compete with other professional sports in terms of viewership and sponsorship opportunities.

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Another significant issue in track and field is the inconsistency of athlete participation in competitions.

In many cases, top athletes do not compete in every major meet, leading to unpredictability and reducing the appeal of the sport for fans.

Unlike leagues like the NBA or the NFL, where players are required to participate in a full season, track and field lacks a mandated competition structure.

Thomas believes that GST directly addresses this problem by contracting athletes to compete at designated meets, ensuring that they show up consistently.

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This is not only beneficial for fans, who will get to see their favorite athletes more often, but also for the athletes themselves, who will have a more stable and predictable schedule.

“The other issue that Grand Slam definitely fixes is athletes showing up to compete. One of the barriers in our sport is that we don’t have a structure where we’re mandated to run. Grand Slam kind of ensures that we’re contracted to run, we’re going to be there, and we’re going to show up,” she added.

By guaranteeing that top competitors participate regularly, GST creates a more competitive and engaging atmosphere, which could help track and field attract more sponsorship deals and media coverage.

Beyond competition structure, Thomas has also spoken about another major challenge faced by track and field athletes—delayed payments.

Unlike athletes in other professional sports, who receive consistent salaries from their teams, most track and field athletes rely on prize money, appearance fees, and sponsorships.

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However, prize money from competitions often takes months to be processed and deposited into athletes’ bank accounts.

During an appearance on the Your Rich BFF podcast, Thomas revealed that track and field athletes often wait six to eight months before receiving payments from competitions, creating financial instability.

“People don’t know that in our sport, it’s normalized to not receive your payment for like six to eight months after the job. You race in January, and you might not see the money until next January,” she noted.

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This unpredictable income structure makes financial planning difficult for athletes, particularly those without major sponsorship deals.

The Grand Slam Track league, with its contracted prize pools and structured payments, could provide a more stable financial model for athletes, ensuring that they receive compensation in a timely manner.

With its structured league format, guaranteed athlete participation, and improved financial model, Grand Slam Track has the potential to transform track and field into a more professional and sustainable sport. athletes.