Mocked by Former Diamond League CEO, Michael Johnson Takes Sly Dig Over Financial Disparity in Track and Field

Michael Johnson is no stranger to controversy, especially when it comes to doing right by athletes. Having watched many track and field stars struggle financially, he launched the Grand Slam Track (GST) series, offering a whopping $100,000 prize for just one meet. To put that in perspective, that’s what it would take a Diamond League winner 10 events to earn. Yet, despite all the benefits for athletes, Johnson’s venture hasn’t been all smooth sailing. And now, it’s Johnson’s turn to hit back. But how did it all start?

Well, just a few days ago, he found himself on the receiving end of some harsh criticism from the former director of the Diamond League, Patrick K. Magyar. The former Zurich Diamond League director took to LinkedIn with a post that shook things up. Titled “From Grand Slam to Grand Flop—A Lesson in What Not to Do with Athletics,” Magyar didn’t mince words. He ripped into Johnson’s Grand Slam Track for ignoring important stakeholders, being too focused on production, and alienating the core of the sport.

But the real jab came when Magyar said: “If you disrespect half the track & field family… If it’s more about your ego than the sport… If you believe money alone rules athletics… Then what you create is not a vision. You create a Grand Flop.” Ouch. And this criticism came just days after the GST’s debut in Kingston, Jamaica, which didn’t go exactly as planned—low attendance, last-minute withdrawals, and other issues made it a rough start.

Welcome to track where athletes complain about not getting paid enough but will turn down the opportunity to make $400k in 4 meets for $10k prize money and an appearance fee lol

— The Erin Brown (@TheErinBrown) April 30, 2025

But if anyone knows how to bounce back, it’s Michael Johnson. On May 1st, he fired back, and his response was both pointed and passionate. “While I enjoyed the financial benefits of being an Olympic champion, I’ve also seen the financial struggles of athletes who didn’t quite make it to the top,” Johnson explained to Nytimes.com. Through personal experience, he understands the struggle for every opportunity because he has lived it.

He established the Grand Slam Track series because he understood what it felt like to battle for every chance. The Diamond League lacks sufficient financial backing for athletes, according to Johnson and all event organizers, because of its insufficient funding. According to Johnson, the $18 million Diamond League prize money for this season falls short of providing adequate support for track and field athletes based in North America. 

“Seventy percent of the medalists from the Paris Olympics live and train in North America,” Johnson pointed out. “But when they go to compete in Diamond League events, they’re expected to fund their own travel, often without any appearance fees.” This leaves athletes in a tough spot—if they don’t medal at the Olympics, their sponsorship deals might dry up, and their financial stability could take a hit. Michael Johnson declares that the Grand Slam Track series obtains funding support through $30 million investments.

The GST introduces measures to transform the current situation. The Grand Slam Track expanded beyond Kingston with meet events in Miami for this weekend before moving to Philadelphia and Los Angeles in the upcoming months. Through increased prize money and improved athlete funding, Johnson wants to rebuild track and field after providing this innovative approach.  At the same time, when we look at the difference in prize money, it’s night and day—GST is a dream come true.

Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam track challenge the Diamond League’s dominance

Track and field experiences an escalating financial transformation as an intense rivalry emerges between established organizations alongside emerging competitors. As the Diamond League prepares for its 16th season in 2025, it will distribute $18 million in prize money across 15 meets, including a total of $9.24 million. The monetary rewards consist of $9.24 million in prize money and substantial appearance fees combined with fundamental athlete services, including travel and physiotherapy.

Sounds solid, right? But there’s a catch. Athletes need to survive fourteen qualifying appearances to reach the Zurich event, where they can pursue the $100 K prize, but only the champion winners walk away with the money. Meanwhile, Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track exists as an innovative solution to traditional racing standards. GST’s whole pitch? Promotes less competition along with larger prize money while eliminating the distracting political game.

The track athlete aspirational competition exists through a four-stop tour, with each venue devoting $100K in prize money between Kingston, Miami, Philly, and LA. But the debut in Kingston? The event failed to create the impact it had intended. The atmosphere lacked excitement because the stands maintained a low level of attendance, and the traffic organization confused spectators, as well as weak public interest.

Pretty quiet. Athletes with star power and a lucrative prize fund failed to convince fans and critics that the event had enough spirit, proper staging, or adequate regional marketing. And the criticism didn’t stop there. Olympic champ Noah Lyles, one of the sport’s loudest and most influential voices, held off on joining GST, voicing concerns about its media visibility and TV deals.

He made it clear—no matter how much money is on the table, if fans can’t find it on screen, it might as well not exist. As Michael Johnson’s GST gears up for round two in Miami, the pressure’s on. But if Johnson and his team can clean up the logistics, crank up the hype, and get the media on board, this could still be the shake-up track and field desperately needs.

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