
Morolake Akinosun, Head of Athletes Relations for Grand Slam Track, has expressed confidence that despite the early start to the Grand Slam Track season in April, athletes will deliver world-class performances. Akinosun addressed concerns regarding the timing of the inaugural meet, which falls at a point in the season when many athletes, especially those from the Western Hemisphere, are still transitioning from indoor competition or just beginning their outdoor training programs.
Akinosun dismissed the notion that athletes might be unable to peak this early in the season, asserting that the new format of Grand Slam Track will redefine how athletes and coaches approach preparation.
“Grand Slam Track is going to change the way athletes prepare for competition and for the season because it’s not just about the major championships anymore,” Akinosun explained. “It’s about every single Slam that we have. I think we’ll see some great competition in April. I think we’ll be surprised to see how many athletes value showing up on the world scale and performing well.”
She emphasized that the onus will be on coaches to adapt their training programs to meet the demands of the new competition schedule, which includes Slams in April, May, and June, before culminating in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in September.
The now-retired US Olympian also debunked theories suggesting that the Grand Slam Track series could lead to athlete burnout by the time of the World Championships. Drawing on previous seasons with extended calendars, such as the 2019 World Championships in Doha, held in October, she highlighted how athletes have consistently delivered exceptional performances across longer competitive periods.
“We had a World Championships in Doha in October 2019, and we saw fantastic performances. This year’s championship is in September. Athletes always compete from April to September—it’s the norm,” she said. “The narrative that it’s too early to perform well is false. We’ll see some athletes who compete at the World Indoor Championships in March also performing brilliantly at the World Championships in September.”
Akinosun expressed confidence in athletes’ ability to rise to the occasion and deliver high-quality performances in April, despite many only having a few outdoor races under their belts. “Athletes value these opportunities to showcase their talent on the global stage, and I believe we’ll see fantastic performances come April,” she concluded.
The Grand Slam Track series, with its promise of high-stakes competition across four meets, is set to transform the athletics calendar. Akinosun’s optimism suggests that not only will athletes adapt, but the new format will elevate the sport by encouraging peak performances throughout the season rather than focusing solely on championship events.
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