By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-26 17:07:40 | Updated at 2024-11-28 10:45:20
1 day ago
US sprint sensation Gabby Thomas has joined Grand Slam Track in a huge coup for Michael Johnson’s new big-money athletics league.
The Olympic 200 meters champion is the biggest signing yet for GST, which launches in Kingston in April before meets in Miami, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
Thomas will race in the 100m and 200m at all four events and could win as much as $400,000 if she tops her short sprints category at each meet.
The 27-year-old is one of the hottest properties in athletics, having won three gold medals at the Paris Olympics – the 200m plus 4x100m and 4x400m relays - and starred in the Netflix series Sprint.
‘This is an incredibly exciting day for all of us at Grand Slam Track,’ admitted GST founder Johnson, the US track legend.
‘Gabby was unquestionably one of the biggest superstars to come out of Paris. For us to bring her excellence, exceptional speed, and tenacious competitive spirit to our league is a huge moment for us.
Gabby Thomas has joined Grand Slam Track - Michael Johnson’s big-money athletics league
Johnson's GST launches in Kingston in April before meets in Miami, Philadelphia and LA
‘What’s even more important is that this ensures fans around the world will get to see Gabby compete against the fastest women in the world four times a year at our Slams.
‘We’ve been saying it and we mean it - we’re calling all rivals and we want only the fastest. Gabby is a true American hero and one of the most impactful athletes of 2024.’
The other athletes to have so far signed up in Thomas’ category are her 4x100m US team-mate Melissa Jefferson, who won 100m bronze in Paris, and Daryll Neita, the Brit who finished fourth and fifth in the 100m and 200m in Paris.
Thomas is the fifth Olympic champion from the US to join GST after Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Quincy Hall, Cole Hocker and Masai Russell.
‘I am so excited to be joining Grand Slam Track and partnering with Michael Johnson to give our sport the platform it deserves,’ said Thomas.
‘Coming off the Olympics, I want to continue testing myself and competing at the highest level against the fastest women in the world. Grand Slam Track allows us that chance in 2025.
‘Michael’s vision is incredibly exciting, and I can’t wait to give the millions of track fans around the world even more chances to watch us compete. I look forward to seeing all of our fans at the four Slams next year.’
GST have now signed 38 of the 48 athletes who will be ‘racers’ in the first year of the series. Racers are contracted to compete in all four meets and are paid a salary. They will be joined by ‘challengers’, who will participate at individual events and receive set appearance fees.
Thomas has been soaking up the sun and unwinding ever since competing at the Olympics
Winners of each meet receive $100,000, worked out by combining the results of the two races in each category.
World Athletics chief executive Jon Ridgeon told Mail Sport last week that he welcomed Johnson’s series and insisted it was not a threat to their existing Diamond League.
‘It is not a rival to anything we do,’ he said. ‘Our view is that we encourage new money and new opportunity into the sport.
‘We take it as a sign that the sport is in pretty good shape if new investors are looking to come in and add value.
‘All we ask for is new organizers to work with us to make sure dates work as far as they can.'
