Four-time Olympic gold medallist and Grand Slam Track co-founder Michael Johnson is brimming with anticipation as the inaugural Grand Slam Track Series opens at Kingston’s National Stadium later today. For Johnson, the excitement is palpable—not just from him, but from the athletes and fans who are helping bring his long-held vision for the sport to life.
“This is what we’ve always wanted,” Johnson said during a media engagement on Thursday. “It’s what I’ve always wanted for this sport. My excitement is coming from the excitement I’m seeing from these racers and from the fans. That’s what’s most important—getting them excited. And they are.”
Johnson, who spent time testing the newly resurfaced green track on Thursday, was impressed by the surface and expects it to produce strong performances—though he was quick to clarify that Grand Slam Track is about more than just times.
“It’s a great track. It’s beautiful. The kids ran fast at Champs last week, so we know it’s fast,” he said. “But I can’t stress enough: for us at Grand Slam Track, it’s not about chasing times. What excites people is competition. That’s what we’re bringing back.”
That sense of head-to-head rivalry has been built into the meet’s format, with race groups carefully curated to ensure that every event is packed with talent.
“Every single race is elite,” Johnson said. “Every athlete is capable of winning. That’s what makes it exciting. This isn’t like other meets where you circle one or two races—every race matters here.”
Set against the backdrop of Jamaica’s passionate fanbase and deep sprinting tradition, the launch in Kingston provides a fitting kickoff for what Johnson hopes will become a transformative series in global athletics.
“We want people to leave Kingston saying, ‘I can’t wait for Miami,’” he said. “That’s how we’ll measure success—excitement and growth. We want the ones who missed this to hear about it and say, ‘I’m not missing the next one.’”
Grand Slam meets are scheduled for Miami, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
Photos: Grand Slam Track