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Michael Johnson anticipates ‘exciting’ Kingston Grand Slam
April 04, 2025
With Grand Slam Track's (GST) inaugural staging taking place today at the National Stadium, the league's founder Michael Johnson said he is looking forward to waves of excitement from both fans and athletes.
"Excitement!" Johnson proclaimed while speaking yesterday at the GST press conference held at the AC Hotel in Kingston.
"We have the momentum going right now because everybody is excited, the athletes are excited, the fans are excited so we want them now to go out of Kingston and say 'We can't wait for Miami'."
The inaugural track league will see 96 of the top athletes in the world compete in six different race categories with the aim of earning points to being individual Slam champions and Racer of the Year.
Johnson said with the league's ability to attract several of the sport's top talents, it will bring back a sense of competitiveness he believes has been missing from the sport.
"When people have the ability to see great competition, that's what excites them and that's what we have curated with Grand Slam Track. Race groups where, you've heard them talking, they all think they can win," he explained.
"They all think they are capable of winning and that is what is compelling about sports. We've gotten away from that with track and with Grand Slam Track we are deliberate about bringing back the competitiveness and the rivalries."
Johnson has pinned much of the league's success on the personalities of the athletes and their ability to keep crowds entertained throughout the three days of competition.
He believes the GST model will ensure every race will be able to entertain the crowd and build on the league's growth on a yearly basis.
"Each one of our events is going to be exciting because everybody here is great. We're so used to in this sport having a track meet where we say, 'this race is going to be exciting but the other ones aren't that great'," he said
"Every single one of our races are going to be great because all of the athletes are the best of the best in the world."
Johnson continued, "If you want to figure out how it's going to make money, then look at any other successful business or any other success sports, it's the same thing."
The Kingston Slam begins today, with action scheduled to get under way at 5:42 p.m. and will run through to Sunday at the National Stadium.
