The director of Grand Slam’s athletes and race reveals everything about the new league
As the news of the new League of Michael Johnson’s new league is building the excitement for the first Federation, which will start on April 4-6. Better understand what this league will offer to Time Readers to collect their burning questions about the event that promise to revolutionize the path and field sport.
What we already know is that Grand Slam Track athletes are classified as rancher and challenge and are assigned to compete in one of the following categories: (3000 m / 5000 m).
Each slam event will be displayed on four races, which are due to four league tiles. Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. They will rise against different challenges during each slam, which are reimbursed for the exterior fee and will compete for the entire prize money.
The winner of each Slam Group, $ 100,000 will take $ 100,000 at $ 100,000, and the competitor will receive $ 10,000 in the eighth place.
In total, 96 athletes will compete in the League, 48 Grand Slam Track Racers, which have collect 34 Olympic medals collectively in the 2024 matches in Paris, which collide with 48 challenges.
Dive deeper what the fans can expect with the stepping of the former trunk and the director of the race and athletes, the Grand Slam Track, asked about our AW followers.
Michael Johnson (Grand Slam Track)
How did events choose?
It went into it a lot before that. But I think the format ultimately obviously The values ​​are the fastest, isn’t it? That is the most important thing bAlso having a number and able to consistently make with many events. I think the combination of two race distance provides a small Bit more dangers for race.
I think The combination of two events creates an intrigue matches, things that fans were not necessarily seen before and After all, more debates and conversations are caused by fans.
Can challenge Compete in many critics.
There is no official rule, saying that it cannot compete more than one cruel. I think if you continue to win then you Welcome to keep coming back and certainly will be invited.
I guess in terms of my philosophy is that we do Want to see a challenge story throughout the season? It is the really strong point of the format to bring that opportunity to those who compete well, and up and to come up with new competitions and just seeing something different Time out. We will see many fresh faces but Of course there are some challenges I already know that there will be consistent there.
What are you looking for when choosing challenges?
How fast are you? It is, of course, important.
It looks at the personal best, IT looks at the medals, it looks at the competition, it’s momentum. T.He is the most important thing who wants to see fans and After all, we try to put a great product on the track. EghtGents offers their athletes to us and we Consider and how to collect the best possible field together.
SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE (GETTY)
What happens if the race / challenge is injured in the middle of the season?
Race are performed contractual so that all four slidges do Of course, how is nature in sports, there will be hiccups on the way. IF that happens then we just add an additional challenge. So you will have five challenges, unlike four. IF someone damaged then two days ago We will do our absolute best to always have an alternative CHallament is ready to go, try to fill in each possible route.
If the athlete is injured, say in the first race and is not Available to perform the second, we are not going to make someone walk there and through limbs. SE will definitely not fill that zone if it is ahead on weekends from the second race.
Can athletes as challenges through a halt season?
Yes of course. I think in particular in Kingston, early in the year is early So we are going to have many challenges that are chosen by their performance last year.
Then you have others we’ve seen already come during the closed season and behave very well and run immediately Start the year with a bang. But Philadelphia and Los Angeles’ slips are so far away. IYou something we have heard of many athletes As one of their goals in this season is to run too early After all, we can attend slippery and compete.
Every year there will be a new choice of challenges.
There is no special pool. There is Of course the table of depth and There are many scouts that go well about. I pour a lot of race resultsI also think that is really important watching the races bEcause, you can see the times on paper but forms In fact, play you tell you a little story.
Every year every slam will be a complete new fresh slab and an Opportunity to enter the athletes and become challenges. I actually think that a Really interesting prospect is a particular contribution Competitors of sports fans through Grand Slam Track.
Josh Kerr, Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse (Getty)
Are the challenges paid and if so, how much?
All challenges are paid and they are paid on the same amount of board. T.Hey all get $ 2000 as an appearance fee, In the field with eight athletes and eighth place is given $ 10,000 After all, it is guaranteed $ 12,000. Most athletes when they walk on the line is not thinking about coming to the eighth place, tHey probably thought of the first prize of that $ 100,000 and All the challenges, of course, have that opportunity to win.
Base compensation is paid on the races on the basis of which their value created at the beginning of the season.
Will Grand Slam’s path ever come to UK?
It is probably a better question to our commissioner (Michael NS Johnson) than myself but surprised lips in the UK and the support we have observed consistently, I think It’s a perfectly possible place. But It will be the final decision of the MJ.
Where will it be broadcast for British fans?
UK viewers will be able to watch TNT sports we are just announced and really excited. It’s so importantparticular in the first year, to make it accessible and have the opportunity to have the possibility of fans Actually watch.
There are programs to bring any other events in the future.
There are no immediate plans. There are a lot of fun and different combinations to see aND for fun to have fun with friends, but now we are focused on the current format and structural format.
Olympic 400m Final (Getty)
Was it justified to host four slips, consider any other number?
YSee it is really working well Tennis and golf. I think it’s a good start item and Particularly for our races who have never had to make one of the number of such meetings behind the other. IT something they were excited and IT something we consistently heard of our races.
At the beginning of the season is really nice to know your schedule and I know the coaches really like to plan backward.
Examine to present more than four slips in the future.
There is definitely conversations and potential one day expanded but right now it really goes down down and focused on putting on This year is four great meetings.
How will the League sport and involve new viewers?
We know that sport already has a huge air conditioner base, isn’t it? SE see every Olympic cycle every four yearsND I think the goal of Grand Slam Track is essentially tap some of them The obstacles of the fans that come only every four years and try to capture their attention a little more.
It begins making more accessible Fans, both knowing how and where to watch. Also, Being able to guarantee who will be there and having the best athletes committed to compete with each other regularly It is a huge missing for us.
It builds very fascinating competitions and overlaps I think After all, the current fans will make a very happy and continue bring those who come only every four years. T.She enjoys sports so often Look back, you see the results and then return and Review the race after hearing what will happen. I think we would like to be able to enjoy the fans The excitement of sports in real time watching it live live.
Gabby Thomas (Getty)
Will we see analysis and athletes interviews on TV coverage?
Yes, for sure. I am a superherent dedicated not only to the display of large tribes, but Ensuring funny TV products. OGrand Slam to have the greatest advantages Attend Should access the athletes in this format and the information we can provide to the side of the manufacture.
We do what we do, we are have contractual liabilities of athletes to make their accessible Following scenes, stories and interviews and to provide fans at home watch a little more context of who they are and what they are watching and therefore giving them more rooting interest.
The athletes will have a walking songs.
In general, music was a superpower to create a league Environment Local cultures where each slam is located. SE definitely have some cool seasons we go integrate into an event. YOu’ll needs to unite or see views, but it will be fun.
JOY HALL (GETTY)
Why did you decide a slip of 800 m / 1500m instead of 400m / 800m?
800m / 1500m is more traditional double. I can think of multiple British athletes that were, of course, good both in 800 m and 1500 m.
No matter what events combination board: It would feel that it fits perfectly for one athlete And probably not for someone else. I I think 800 m / 1500m are probably the event we have seen the most wicked online.
It unites such unique diversity of talent and You see again that you would never see. We see The best athletes collide that don’t ever match each other. SenseArtificially in Kingston we have one, two, three At that time, you have already announced one, two, four, four, four of Paris. Crookedo There is a lot of curiosity.
We see many athletes who don’t even have 1500 m personal best in their name Who is going to have one in a month now? I say this as a former 1500 m running for 800m are the boys 1500 m It is going to run much faster than I think people are realizing.
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