The thoughtful building of the 400m field for the 2025 Grand Slam is fascinating.
GRAND SLAM TRACK™ Announces Signing of Quincy Hall and Matthew Hudson-Smith
The 400m Paris Olympic podium is now closed for all four Slams of the 2025 season; Muzala Samukonga was announced as a signing last month.
New York, NY (October 11, 2024) – Grand Slam Track™, the new global home of professional running competition launched earlier this year by four-time US Olympic champion Michael Johnson, today officially announced the signing of Olympic 400m gold medalist Quincy about Indoor and Olympic 400m silver medalist Matthew Hudson-Smith. These signings mark a historic moment for the Grand Slam Track™ as it now has all three medalists from the Paris 2024 Olympic 400m podium, with bronze medalist Muzala Samukonga already on the field.
“Quincy and Matthew are great additions to the Grand Slam Track™,” said league founder and commissioner Michael Johnson. “They’ve both had incredible seasons, especially with their performances in Paris, and they’re obviously at a high level. What we’re building here is about bringing together the best athletes from around the world and creating real competition that fans can get behind. Quincy and Matthew are the type of racers who can elevate any event and I look forward to seeing what they bring to the table in our inaugural season.”
Hall, a Kansas City native, established herself as one of the top sprinters in the country at the University of South Carolina, where she was a four-time All-American and won the 2019 NCAA Championships. He made an unforgettable Olympic debut in Paris, winning gold in the 400m in a personal best time of 43.40. His performance, which snapped a 16-year drought for the United States, made him the fourth-fastest 400-meter runner of all time. Her Olympic victory capped off an impressive 2023 season that included a bronze medal in the 400m at the World Championships and a gold medal in the 4x400m relay. Hall is set to continue his dominant rise on the world stage with the Grand Slam Track™.
“This is a great opportunity with the Grand Slam Track™,” said Hall. “Winning the gold in Paris was a big moment for me, but I’m always looking for the next challenge and this league gives us something new. I love the idea of a league focused on racing head-to-head against the world’s best, which gives us a new platform to do that. I know I can do a lot more and I’m ready to see how far I can push myself in this league.”
Hudson-Smith, one of Great Britain’s most decorated sprinters, made her third Olympic appearance at Paris 2024 with one of the best performances of her career. Hudson-Smith won silver in the 400m, setting a new European record and personal best of 43.44 behind Hall in one of the fastest Olympic 400m races ever. In addition to her individual silver, Hudson-Smith helped lead Great Britain’s 4x400m relay team to a bronze medal, breaking the British record. With six British titles and numerous world medals, including silver and bronze at the World Championships and four golds at the European Championships, Hudson-Smith has cemented her status as one of the world’s best 400m runners.
“I’ve been competing for a long time, and what really stands out about Grand Slam Track™ is the opportunity to approach the sport from a new perspective,” said Hudson-Smith. “I’ve had success on the world stage, but this league creates a new opportunity to compete in a different way. I am ready to bring my experience, continue to improve and compete alongside the best athletes in the world. It’s a great time for track and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Each year, 48 athletes will be designated by the league as Grand Slam Track™ competitors. Hall and Hudson-Smith join Sydney McLaughlin-Levron, Melissa Jefferson, Masai Russell, Fred Curley, Kenny Bednarek, Cole Hawker, Jared Nugus, Josh Kerr, Sirena Samba-Mayela, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Alison Dosla Santun, Alison Dosla Santun : Clement Ducos as the Racers have announced signees so far. These racers are selected by the Grand Slam Track™ Racing Committee based on a combination of factors to include the fastest and best racers in each race group, focusing on fierce competition and exciting competitive racing. Grand Slam Track™ contestants commit to competing in all four Slams each year. They will receive an annual base compensation for each helmet race and may receive total prize money. Participants in this Grand Slam Track™ competition will receive annual contracts, access to the Grand Slam Track™ content and data services team, inclusion in the league collective, group licensing, new revenue opportunities and world-class athlete support services throughout the season. Grand Slam Track™ contestants are paid under contract to compete and promote the league, as well as receive additional marketing and branding support.
The remaining 48 racers will be known as Grand Slam Track™ Challengers and will be paid a fee to compete in individual Slams. The Grand Slam Track™ Racing Committee selects Grand Slam Track™ racers based on a variety of factors, including recent performances and the most exciting athletes and matches.
Runners and Challengers will compete in one of the following categories and will all compete in two events at each Slam: Short Sprint (100m/200m), Short Hurdles (100h or 110h/100m), Long Sprint (200m/400m), Long Hurdles (400H/400m), short distance (800m/1500m) or long distance (3000m/5000m). The combined finishing order between the two races will determine the final placing points for all competitors. In the event of a tie in both events, the winner will be the athlete with the fastest combined time in both events. The winner of each Slam group will take home $100,000 in prize money and the 8th place finisher will earn $10,000. The Grand Slam Track™ will have $12.6 million in prize money awarded annually at the Slams, in addition to base compensation and appearance fees paid to racers.
The focus of Grand Slam Track™ is on the fight, not the winning times. There will be no bunnies or spotlights. Each Slam is of equal importance as any other, will have its own prize purse and will be played independently unless points and previous finishes carry over to subsequent Slams. All racers will compete twice during the three-day event, and all Slam events will follow World Athletics regulations, and the marks achieved can be for ratings and standards.
Racers will compete in their sponsored gear without the traditional bib numbers or bibs. Racers and Challengers are encouraged to work with their sponsors to create custom kits in their desired style. Grand Slam Track™ has no affiliation or sponsorship agreement with any footwear company; All shoe companies are considered important stakeholders and partners in the advancement of our racers.
Grand Slam Track™ has secured more than $30 million in financial commitments from investors and strategic partners to launch the league. Winners Alliance, global, athlete-centric
commercial solution, and Johnson’s operating partner was the lead investor in the first fundraising for the new venture. Investing in the league will contribute to Johnson’s ultimate goal. develop better engagement with fans by promoting athletics’ biggest stars and reaching new audiences through unique, innovative storytelling.
Ticket sales information will be released soon. For more information, please follow @GrandSlamTrack on all social media platforms and visit grandslamtrack.com.
About Michael Johnson
Born in Dallas, Texas, Michael Johnson is a Hall of Fame track and field star who is universally recognized as one of the greatest sprinters of all time. He won four Olympic gold medals and eight world championships and held the world and Olympic records in the 200m and 400m. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Johnson became the first and only male athlete to win a gold medal in the 200m and 400m at the same Olympics. Since retiring from active competition, Johnson has become a serial entrepreneur, investor, highly sought-after performance mindset speaker, and award-winning television commentator. Johnson has been a pundit for the BBC’s coverage of all Olympic Games since Athens 2004 and remains a key voice and advocate for the sport. Johnson was inducted into the United States Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2004.
