Grand Slam Track athletes say they have not received payments despite Johnson's claim

Grand Slam Track athletes told BBC Sport on 11 August 2026 they have not been paid money organisers promised, contradicting founder Michael Johnson's statement that he had "got the athletes paid" following what he described as a "catastrophic capital issue" caused by investors pulling out.

Michael Johnson launched Grand Slam Track (GST) in 2025 promising lucrative prize money and salaries for competitors; the series was originally planned as four marquee meets but the final event in Los Angeles was cancelled and organisers voluntarily filed for bankruptcy in the US in December. In an interview with the Telegraph, Johnson admitted he had used his personal credit card to buy athlete flights and hotel rooms as GST ran into trouble.

Agents and sports-management companies told BBC Sport that athletes were still waiting to receive the payments they are owed. A company acting on behalf of athletes said they had not received any payments nor had they been contacted to be told when payments were due.

Johnson said he was hurt by accusations he had "secretly" paid himself $500,000 (£375,000) days before the season collapsed, a claim a GST representative called at the time "unfounded and false". In the Telegraph interview Johnson said: "I'm happy to clear it up, because it's the most hurtful thing and the exact opposite of what was reported."

Johnson also told the newspaper: "Our credit card was full at Grand Slam Track, because we were facing significant cash-flow issues. I instructed our travel team to put it on my credit card, and I would be reimbursed for it. So, what I received was reimbursement." Despite those comments, his claim that those owed had already been paid proved premature.

Johnson's representatives conceded the money had not yet reached the athletes and said the American had not intentionally set out to deceive people by saying it had. It is understood the reported $11m (£8.1m) owed to creditors, including athletes, is being held by a third party; BBC Sport has contacted the American firm believed to be holding the money but it is yet to respond.

Several high-profile athletes were reported to be owed payments of more than £100,000, including Josh Kerr and Matthew Hudson-Smith. Johnson has been a pundit and commentator for the BBC since 2001 but has not worked for the broadcaster since the 2024 Olympics as he focused his attention on GST.

It remains unclear how long it will take for the outstanding payments to reach athletes while the third party holding the reported funds has not replied to BBC Sport's enquiries.