WhenMichael Johnson teamed up with billionaire Bill Ackman to launch Grand Slam Track (GST), it felt like a turning point for the sport. Promising higher payouts and bigger visibility for athletes, GST positioned itself as a bold alternative to the old guard of track and field. But it didn’t take long for friction to arise-especially with Alexis Ohanian, founder of Athlos and a vocal advocate for open athlete access.
The flashpoint? A clause in GST’s contracts that required athletes to get permission to compete in outside events, including Ohanian’s. Ohanian criticized the move. The GST side didn’t respond. The silence spoke volumes-and the feud quietly simmered.
Now, months later, Johnson is ready to change that.
On the August 1 episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, Johnson made his most direct comments yet about the situation-and they were surprisingly conciliatory. “I’ll talk to anybody in the sport,”Johnson said. “If Alexis called, I’d pick up the phone and say, ‘What’s up, man? Let’s talk about the sport we all care about.'”
He emphasized that while they may differ in their strategies, the goal is the same: grow the sport and bring it the attention it deserves.
“We All Want to See the Sport Change for the Better”
Johnson’s tone marks a clear shift from earlier this year when GST found itself under fire-not just from Ohanian, but from within the broader track community. In response to mounting criticism, GST eventually walked back its most controversial policy, stating that athletes would no longer need permission to compete in Diamond League and select events.
Still, Johnson’s public acknowledgment of the tension-and his willingness to move past it-is a development worth noting. Especially since he also revealed he’s a personal investor in GST. “I’ve got my own money in this,” he said on the podcast. “So I’m the worst scammer ever.”
This olive branch didn’t come out of nowhere. U.S. sprint star Noah Lyles had previously urged both Johnson and Ohanian to set their differences aside. Speaking on the Beyond the Records podcast, Lyles floated the idea of a super-collaboration that could include Athlos, GST, the Diamond League, and even World Athletics. “Why not pool resources and create something we’ve never seen?” he asked.
Fellow sprinter Rai Benjamin agreed, pointing to successful formats like Zurich and Monaco. The message from the athletes has been clear: unity is stronger than division. Johnson seems to be listening.
Whether Ohanian will respond remains to be seen. But in a sport desperate for reform, two of its most powerful disruptors talking instead of feuding might just be the first step toward real change.
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