When Michael Johnson launched his Grand Slam Track project, he sparked backlash by saying, “I am going to save what I think I can save. I think I can save track, I don’t think I can save track and field.” He emphasized that while the two belong together at world championships, only track made sense for a pro league. And Olympic long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall bristled at the comment, posting on Instagram, “My sport doesn’t need saving at all… it’s track and field for a reason.” She accused Johnson of cutting the sport in half, while her husband, Hunter Woodhall, added that it was thriving without his intervention. Now, they are back at it again.

“I mean, I think it was pathetic. I think it was silly that you tried to excel an event or a sport to see your own success, which failed,” remarked Tara Davis-Woodhall after Justin Gatlin asked how she felt after she had to stand up for her sport against, “people who didn’t want to see it move forward in the way you think so?” No names were taken, but it is clear that the target was Michael Johnson and Grand Slam Track. The context? Johnson’s statement that he cannot save the field. The long jumper called his attempt to save track (so he said) a selfish move, which failed. And Hunter Woodhall didn’t hold back either.

The Paralympian said, “I think like two things. Like one, like you can encounter a problem, complain about it, and then let it go, or two, encounter a problem, complain about it, and then actually do something about it, right?” GST identified the problem of lack of coverage and funding in track and field, and Michael Johnson tried to tackle them. He brought it to NBC, which even refused the Diamond League, and announced $100,000 for the winner. But it all came crashing down.

Hunter Woodhall added that, in one sense, they could have just acknowledged the situation and done nothing about it. But instead, “Tara becomes a part of Athlos, who involves field events in the events, and are now going into a league format; next year, there’s going to be multiple meets, like a very successful meet where the athletes get paid on time.” Athlos NYC 2024 featured a total prize purse of $663,000, marking it as one of the most lucrative events in women’s track and field history, and in fact, all athletes were given their money on time, unlike GST.

Athlos is set to return in 2025 with its signature event, Athlos NYC, scheduled for October 10, 2025, at Icahn Stadium in New York City. Tara Davis-Woodhall would be doing the long jump at Times Square. Looking ahead, Athlos plans to expand into a team-based women’s track and field league in 2026, featuring multiple meets in various cities.

Hunter further said that there was a lot of hype and excitement, the crowd was full, the marketing was strong, and the organizers focused on the athletes rather than themselves. “And I’m not referring to anybody else or anything else. That’s just what Athlos does, and they do a really great job at it,” he concluded. But was he truly not? Only he can tell.

Meanwhile, troubles only keep getting worse for Michael Johnson.

Michael Johnson’s troubles

Trouble has no ending for Michael Johnson. After a start with an announced $30 million in promised support and a wildly ambitious plan to compete with the Diamond League, Michael Johnson Grand Slam Track (GST) is now the cause of his greatest problems. A major investor withdrew hysterically after the initial meet in Kingston, which led to a serious crunch of cash.

At the end of the season, GST owed approximately 13 million dollars in unpaid prize and fee money, and even venue bills were not paid.

The collateral damage has been stinging. Runners and representatives swindled by Johnson are yet to see payouts, and the chief of World Athletics, Lord Coe, has intervened with regard to the welfare of the athletes.

GST has shed jobs and wage bill, but the loss to its trust is beyond measure. Johnson himself confessed that he did not sleep for one week, because he could not make good on his promises.

For the four-time Olympic champion, the fall of GST is a bitter twist of events. A healthful record in the sporting sphere turns into the career of an endangered business. Johnson, at this point, must deal with the issue of restoring trust, paying the debt, and ensuring that his vision was not just overreach. His biggest challenge might not be on the field but to save the future of the league, and his reputation, too.