Grant Fisher has offered a contasting stance to Noah Lyles on Michael Johnson’s inagural Grand Slam Track.
American long-distance runner Grant Fisher has expressed his strong support for Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track league, offering a contrasting view to critics like Noah Lyles and Rai Benjamin.
Fisher, who holds world records in the indoor 3000m and 5000m events, made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by securing bronze medals in both the 5000m and 10,000m, becoming the first American to medal in both events at a single Olympics.
In October 2024, he officially joined the Grand Slam Track league and is set to compete in the 3000m and 5000m across all four meets of the inaugural season.
While the new league has garnered resistance from some elite athletes, Lyles and Benjamin have been among its most vocal critics.
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Lyles has raised concerns about the lack of a robust broadcasting strategy, as well as the financial viability and demanding scheduling of the league.
He particularly highlighted the back-to-back competitions early in the season as a potential injury risk. Benjamin echoed similar sentiments, questioning the physical toll on athletes and the financial incentives compared to traditional championships.
Fisher, however, believes the Grand Slam Track league is exactly what the sport needs for long-term growth. Speaking to Athletics Weekly, he shared his perspective on why the initiative is a game-changer for track and field.
“I think, big picture, the Grand Slam is a fantastic idea and a great model for changing the sport,” Fisher stated. “The sport hasn’t evolved in the past 50 years, so it’s time to try something new, and I believe the Grand Slam is going to bring significant changes.”
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Fisher emphasised that the league has already influenced how other meets operate, noting that even the Diamond League has responded positively.
“A little competition for these meets is a really good thing. Innovation pushes more innovation forward, and the races are going to be really exciting.”
From a competition standpoint, Fisher is particularly intrigued by the challenge of competing in the 3000m-5000m double within a short time frame.
“No one does that. No one has experience with it. I just ran a 3K-5K double over six days, and that’s very different from doing it over a Friday and then a Sunday,” he explained.
“Will they be fast? Will they be slow? Will the challengers try to solo a 12:50? Who knows? But that’s compelling, and that’s what makes people watch. I think it’s going to be really fun.”
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Beyond the competition itself, Fisher sees the league as an opportunity for athletes to perform at a high level multiple times throughout the year, as opposed to being limited to the World Championships or Olympics.
“In the old model, if you mistimed your peak, got injured, or sick, it was just ‘better luck next year.’ But now, if these meets really catch on, there are multiple opportunities to excel, which is good for everybody.”
He also believes that regularly facing the world’s best runners will help sharpen his own competitive edge.
“I like the idea of racing the best guys in the world many times—not only because that’s what I want to do, but also because it will make me better at the World Championships. Gaining experience in unpaced, tactical races against other medalists will only help me improve.”
With Fisher embracing the Grand Slam Track concept, his perspective challenges the concerns raised by Lyles and Benjamin.