Antigua and Barbuda’s National Hero and iconic West Indies batsman, Sir Vivian Richards, has hailed the accomplishments of St. Lucia's Julien Alfred and Dominica's Thea LaFond at the just-concluded Paris Olympic Games.
In fact, Richards, while sharing his excitement about the athletes' achievements, believes their historic feats are something that the entire Caribbean should be proud of, especially given the fact that both are from tiny islands with a combined population of 250,000.
“We all should be proud, and I feel like I am them [athletes] on the podium too, because you can feel it [the pride] when they hold their hearts. This is just a special time, and you have to big them up because it’s huge, especially coming from small territories as we do at times, and being able to make an impact in the world, and you have the world media saying beautiful things about you; there is no better feeling,” Richards said on the Good Morning Jojo sports show.
Alfred, 23, won gold in the women’s 100m in 10.72s, beating American Sha’Carri Richardson, the reigning World Champion, who was heavily favoured to take the race. The feat delivered St. Lucia’s first ever Olympic medal, before Alfred added another when she placed second in the 200m in 22.08s
Prior to Alfred's feat, LaFond again etched her name in history books for Dominica when she won triple jump gold with a leap of 15.02m. That was her country's first ever Olympic Games medal.
The accomplishments of both Alfred and LaFond followed their exploits at the World Athletics Indoor Championships earlier this year, where they also won their respective events.
GRAND SLAM TRACK™ announces signings of Nozomi Tanaka, Elise Cranny, Daryll Neita, Mary Moraa, and Salwa Eid Naser
Grand Slam Track™, the new global stage for elite track competition founded by four-time US Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, today announced the signings of Nozomi Tanaka, Elise Cranny, Daryll Neita, Mary Moraa, and Salwa Eid Naser. Representing Japan, the United States, Great Britain, Kenya, and Bahrain, respectively, these accomplished Racers will compete in all four Slam events during the league's inaugural season in 2025. These signings highlight Grand Slam Track™’s dedication to assembling a world-class roster of talent from across the globe that will electrify fans in the upcoming season.
“Grand Slam Track™ continues to build momentum as we get closer to our inaugural 2025 season,” said Michael Johnson, the league’s founder and Commissioner. “The attention and recognition this league is gaining is incredible, and it continues to be clear that the best in the world want to be a part of it, as you can see from this group of women we have announced today. As we continue to bring in top-tier talent from across the globe, this platform is becoming the premier stage for athletes to showcase their speed. With each new addition, we’re raising the bar and creating something truly special - a Festival of Speed - for fans to enjoy when the season kicks off in Kingston in April.”
Nozomi Tanaka is a Japanese middle and long-distance runner, holding national records in the 1500m, 3000m, and 5000m. She competed in both the 1500m and 5000m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics. She holds personal bests of 3:59.19 and 14:29.18 in those events, respectively. Tanaka has won nine national titles across the 1500m and 5000m at the Japan Championships between 2020 and 2024. She also claimed gold in the 3000m at the 2018 World U20 Championships. Tanaka has represented Japan at the World Championships in 2019, 2022, and 2023, as well as at World Cross Country Championships in 2019, 2023, and 2024, establishing herself as one of the country’s top distance runners.
“I am delighted to be part of Grand Slam Track™ and represent my country of Japan on the global stage,” Tanaka shared. “The level of competition is incredible, and I can already feel how much it’s going to challenge me. The lineup of other Racers is fantastic and I know I’m ready to give my best to be victorious. I can’t wait to showcase my speed in Grand Slam Track™ and look forward to seeing the fans at all of the Slams in 2025.”
Elise Cranny is an American middle and long-distance runner, known for her impressive achievements in the 5000m and 10000m. The Stanford alum is a two-time Olympic finalist in the 5000m, a four-time national champion, and the American record holder in the indoor 5000m and outdoor 3000m. She was also a part of the U.S. team that set the world record in the 4x1500m relay. Cranny competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics. She was the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials champion in the 5000m. In 2022, she broke the American indoor 5000m record (14:33.17) and claimed gold in the 5000m at the USA Outdoor Championships. Cranny also earned medals at the 2023 USA Outdoor Championships, winning both the 5000m and 10000m titles. She set the American record in the outdoor 3000m in August of 2024 with her time of 8:25.10.
“I’m honestly so excited to be part of Grand Slam Track™,” Cranny said. “It’s an incredible feeling to know I’m part of this extremely elite group of athletes who’ve set records and reached the top of their sport. But honestly, it’s more than just about the competition—it’s about what I can learn and how I can level up as an athlete. Every race is an opportunity to understand myself better, to see where I’m strong and where I can improve. I can’t wait to get racing.”
Daryll Neita is a British sprinter who has earned recognition on the global stage, particularly in the 100m and 200m events. She won silver in the 200m at the 2024 European Championships and has multiple global 4x100m relay medals, including Olympic bronze in 2016 and 2020, and Olympic silver in 2024. Neita's personal bests include 10.90 seconds in the 100m and 22.16 seconds in the 200m. A consistent performer, she has also claimed five national titles and medaled at major championships like the Commonwealth Games and World Championships, cementing her status as one of Britain's top sprinters.
“I’m really excited to be the first British woman announced as joining Grand Slam Track™, and can’t wait to start racing in this fresh new league,” said Neita. “I love the concept and getting to race twice in a weekend is fun and exciting for all of us as Racers. It’s an amazing opportunity to compete at the highest level in a whole new format that’s going to bring a lot of energy to the sport. I can’t wait to see how the season unfolds and race alongside some of the best athletes in the world. It’s going to be an incredible experience for the fans and athletes alike.”
Mary Moraa is a Kenyan middle-distance runner specializing in the 800 meters. Moraa earned the bronze medal in that event at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. She won gold in the 800m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships and at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and also earned bronze at the 2022 World Championships. Moraa is the Kenyan record holder for the 400 meters and holds the world record in the 600 meters. She was crowned the Diamond League 800m champion in 2022 and 2024 and has a personal best of 1:56.03 in the 800m. Moraa initially competed in the 400 meters before transitioning to the 800m in 2020, marking a rapid rise to the top of the sport.
“I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join Grand Slam Track™,” said Moraa. "This is a big step for me, and I’m determined to work hard and give my absolute best in every race. Competing in all four Slam events will push me to be better and to keep growing as an athlete. I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead and know this is a chance to truly elevate my career, and represent Kenya on the global stage."
Salwa Eid Naser is a Bahraini sprinter who specializes in the 400 meters. Most recently, she earned silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She made history at the 2019 World Championships, winning gold in 48.14 seconds, the third-fastest performance of all time , and becoming the youngest-ever 400m world champion. Naser also claimed silver at the 2017 World Championships and bronze in the mixed-gender 4x400m relay in 2019. A two-time Diamond League 400m champion, she holds the top thirteen Asian performances in history.
“Joining Grand Slam Track™ is a huge opportunity, and I’m determined to keep pushing myself with every race,” said Naser. “This league presents an exciting challenge, and I’m ready to give it everything I’ve got. I know this season will push me to new limits, and I’m focused on making each race count. It’s all about working hard, getting better with each step, and showing up stronger every time.”
Each year, 48 athletes will be named as Grand Slam Track™ Racers. Today’s group of announced Racers takes the total unveiled to 37. The roster of Racers already announced features stars from across the world of track: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Melissa Jefferson, Masai Russell, Quincy Hall, Fred Kerley, Kenny Bednarek, Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse, Grant Fisher, Josh Kerr, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Ackera Nugent, Roshawn Clarke, Nikki Hiltz, Cyrena Samba-Mayela, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Alison Dos Santos, Ronald Kwemoi, Muzala Samukonga, Clement Ducos, Marileidy Paulino, Jess Hull, Daniel Roberts, Shamier Little, Marco Arop, Devon Allen, Jasmine Jones, Jereem Richards, Luis Grijalva, Rushell Clayton, Agnes Ngetich, & Tsigie Gebreselama. Fans can now be certain they will see all the superstars listed above in action in Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles in 2025.
The remaining 48 racers will be known as Grand Slam Track™ Challengers and will be paid a set appearance fee to compete at individual Slams. Grand Slam Track™ Challengers are chosen by the Grand Slam Track™ Racing Committee based on a combination of factors including recent performances, and the most intriguing athletes and matchups.
Racers and Challengers will be assigned to compete in one of the following categories, and will all race in two events during each Slam: short sprints (100m/200m), short hurdles (100H or 110H/100m), long sprints (200m/400m), long hurdles (400H/400m), short distance (800m/1500m), or long distance (3000m/5000m). All competitors’ final placement score will be determined by their combined finishing order between the two races. In the event of a tie across the two events, it will be the athlete who had the quickest combined time across the two races who will be deemed the winner. The winner of each Slam group will take home $100,000 in prize money, and the 8th place competitor will earn $10,000. Grand Slam Track™ will have a total of $12.6m of prize money that will be awarded across the slams each year in addition to the base compensation and appearance fees paid to racers.
The focus of Grand Slam Track™ is on head to head competition, not winning times. There will be no rabbits or pacing lights. Each Slam is equally as important as any other, will have its own prize purse, and will be independently scored, with points and previous finishes not carrying over to the following Slams. All racers will compete twice over the three-day event, and all Slam events will meet World Athletics regulations, with achieved marks being eligible for rankings and standards.
Racers will compete in their own sponsored kits, without traditional hip numbers or bibs. Racers and Challengers are encouraged to work with their sponsors to create customized kits, in their own desired style. Grand Slam Track™ has no affiliation or sponsorship agreement with any shoe company; all shoe companies are considered to be important stakeholders and partners in the promotion of our racers.
Grand Slam Track™ has secured more than $30 million in financial commitments from investors and strategic partners for the launch of the league. Winners Alliance, a global, athlete-centric
commercial solution and Johnson’s operating partner, was the lead investor in the first fundraising close for the new venture. The investment in the league will aid in Johnson’s ultimate goal: to develop better engagement with fans by promoting track and field’s biggest stars and reaching new audiences with unique, innovative storytelling.
Tickets for all four Slams will go on sale on Friday, December 6th, at 10am Pacific/1pm Eastern. To learn more, please visit https://grandslamtrack.com/events
World Athletics announces groundbreaking World Athletics Ultimate Championship
World Athletics has unveiled the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, a bold new addition to the athletics calendar designed to determine the ultimate champions of the sport. The inaugural event will take place over three thrilling evenings from September 11-13, 2026, at the Budapest National Athletics Centre in Hungary.
This revolutionary event will feature 28 events across 16 disciplines, including marquee clashes in the 100m, pole vault, and the introduction of a mixed 4x100m relay. Athletes will vie for a share of the US$10 million prize pot, with $150,000 awarded to the champions in each event.
The World Athletics Ultimate Championship will be held every two years, bridging the gap in years without a World Championships. Its fast-paced, television-friendly format promises to deliver an electrifying experience for fans both in-stadium and around the world. Each session will last under three hours, ensuring non-stop action and showcasing the world’s best athletes competing head-to-head while representing their national teams in their respective kits.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described the event as a "game-changer" for the sport. “This new global event will be a game-changer for our sport and for our athletes. We want to bring our fans athletics like they have never seen it before – with the best of the best athletes in our sport competing head-to-head in a passion-fuelled, high-octane festival of sport,” said Coe.
The competition will span 28 events, combining traditional track and field disciplines with innovative additions. Track events include the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 100m/110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, and mixed 4x100m and mixed 4x400m relays. Field events will feature pole vault, high jump, long jump, triple jump (women), hammer throw (men), and javelin throw.
World Athletics has partnered with Tata Communications and HBS as host broadcasters, leveraging their expertise to deliver an innovative and immersive viewing experience. The agreement builds on a five-year deal covering World Athletics Series events. Infront has been appointed to lead international media rights sales, focusing on free-to-air platforms to maximize global reach and ensure that fans everywhere can experience the excitement.
“Tata Communications is thrilled to partner with World Athletics for the Ultimate Championship, a groundbreaking addition to the global track and field calendar,” said Dhaval Ponda, Tata Communications Vice President and Global Media Head. HBS CEO Dan Miodownik highlighted the event’s potential for innovation, stating, “It is a real opportunity to help shape the way coverage of athletics evolves over the coming years.”
The Ultimate Championship will return to the Budapest National Athletics Centre, which hosted the 2023 World Athletics Championships. Hungarian Secretary of State for Sports Adam Schmidt celebrated the announcement, noting Budapest’s growing reputation as a global sports hub. “It is a great honour that after the exhilarating World Athletics Championships Budapest 23, the wonderful National Athletics Centre will once again open its doors for a major international sporting event,” Schmidt said.
World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon emphasized the event’s focus on engaging fans with constant, fast-paced action. “The Ultimate Championship is also a chance for us to really innovate how we deliver our sport, presenting it in new formats and across different platforms designed to keep the entire venue engaged,” Ridgeon said.
With its innovative format, star-studded athlete lineup, and a prize pool designed to attract the best in the world, the World Athletics Ultimate Championship is poised to redefine how athletics is presented and consumed globally. The event promises to set a new standard for excitement and fan engagement, ushering in a new era for the sport.
50 years of Greatness: Philip Spooner sits down with Sir Viv and Sir Gordon on their famous Test debuts
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the first day that two of the greatest cricketers of all-time set foot on the international stage.
On November 22, 1974, Sir Gordon Greenidge and Sir Vivian Richards made their Test debuts against India. The match was played at the Karnataka State Cricket Association Stadium in Bangalore.
These two cricketing titans had illustrious careers that spanned from 1974 to 1991 and cemented their place among the pantheon of global sporting icons. During that time, they were pillars of the all-conquering West Indies team, which ruled the cricket world in red ball and white ball formats.
Both remembered the first day of action on Indian soil “like it was yesterday”.
The 23-year-old Greenidge was officially the 150th West Indies Test player. He entered with a flourish, scoring 93 and 107. This piloted West Indies to a huge win by 267 runs and a great start to the five-match series.
Sir Gordon Greenidge
The 22-year-old Richards is officially listed as the 151st West Indies Test player. He endured a tough start against the wizardry of Bhagwant Chandrasekhar. He fell to ace spinner in both innings for only three and four. But he rebounded in spectacular fashion next match with a sensational 192 not out at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi. He struck 20 fours and six towering sixes to showcase his prowess and announce his arrival. West Indies won the match by an innings.
Sir Gordon said: “It was a great feeling ... a truly wonderful feeling to walk out and open the batting for the West Indies in my first Test match in India. You were going to face four of the best spinners in the world, and that was a frightening aspect. But I’m pleased to say I was able to overcome those fears pretty quicky and was able to get a formidable score and a personal achievement. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to triple figures in the first innings. But I was able to buckle down again in the second innings and got the hundred and the team won the Test match.”
Sir Viv said: “I didn’t really expect to play … I thought I was going as a replacement … I hit some good form going into the series and the confidence was there. I remember in those day we had some huge crowds … They were maybe 60 000 to 70 000 people in the stands. They (India) were renowned for their spinners, Bedi, Prasanna, Chandrasekhar and Venkat, so it was just different in my perspective. Coming from a small island, you were playing in front of a crowd that was as many as the country where you lived… There was quite a lot happening. Those were testing times…”
He added: “Wow! To get a century in my second Test was a great feeling. I felt that with the mindset of selectors back in those days I was on my last lap, so I had to get something done … better than I did in Bangalore … ‘192 clicks not out’. That was a serious comeback and created the confidence a young man needed to have a successful tour and successful career.”
Sir Isaac Vivian Richards
Sir Gordon and Sir Viv are rated among the best batsmen in history. Among their many accolades, they were named as Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1977 and are inductees in the International Cricket Council’s prestigious Hall of Fame. They were also members of the West Indies team that won the inaugural ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 1975 at Lord’s in England and repeated in 1979.
Both ended their careers with stellar records. Richards played 121 matches and made 8 540 runs at an average of 50.2. His best score was 291 against England at The Oval on the historic 1976 tour of England. In his first-class career, he made 36,212 runs with 114 centuries. Greenidge played 108 Tests and made 7 558 runs at an average of 44.7. His top score was 226 against Australia at Kensington Oval in 1991 in his penultimate Test innings. In his first-class career, he made 37 354 runs with 92 centuries.
Looking back over the 50 years, Richards said that above all, wearing the West Indies colours brought him greatest pride. This was echoed by Greenidge.
Sir Viv said: “It is not about what you achieve personally, as an individual…but it is much more about what we did as a collective for the people of the West Indies. The same way when we bleed, we bleed together and when we win, we win together, and we have fun.”
Sir Gordon said: “Getting the nod to play for West Indies. I would have to say is the greatest moment of my career. In a land where people found it difficult to go and I managed to start so well. It might seem very strange to say that, but to get the opportunity to play, I would say I accomplished something that so many people dream of doing. I am happy to get that opportunity to play for the West Indies and for as long as I did. Representing the West Indies is the ultimate. We played for our people in the West Indies and the many people overseas who supported us.”
Philip Spooner is the former Media Manager of the West Indies team and the former Head of Media for Cricket West Indies. He was also the Global Media Manager for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
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