Michael Johnson has broken his silence following the collapse of his track competition, Grand Slam Track, confirming that all participating athletes have now been compensated. The league faced a significant financial crisis after investors withdrew funding, leading to the cancellation of its final Los Angeles event and a subsequent bankruptcy filing in December 2025.
Prior to this, notable competitors such as Josh Kerr and Matthew Hudson-Smith were among those awaiting payments exceeding £100,000. Reports had previously surfaced suggesting Johnson received a $500,000 payment just before the league’s failure. However, Johnson told The Telegraph that this sum was strictly a reimbursement for business travel expenses he personally covered when the company’s credit limit was reached. He further noted that he loaned the organization $2 million to support athlete costs and forfeited his own salary.
Addressing the personal toll of the controversy, Johnson admitted that allegations regarding his integrity caused significant distress for both him and his family. The Association of Athletics Managers had reported that the organization held over $30 million in debt as of January. Johnson, who had stepped away from his BBC commentary role to pursue the project, stated that he has already committed to repaying the $500,000 to the league.
