The considerate constructing of the 400-meter area for the 2025 Grand Slam Observe is fascinating.
GRAND SLAM TRACK™ Proclaims Signings of Quincy Corridor & Matthew Hudson-Smith
The 400m Paris Olympic podium is now locked in to compete in all 4 Slams of the 2025 season; Muzala Samukonga was introduced as a signee final month.
New York, NY (October eleventh, 2024) – Grand Slam Observe™, the brand new international house {of professional} observe competitors, launched earlier this yr by four-time US Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, at present formally introduced the signings of Olympic 400m gold medalist Quincy Corridor and Olympic 400m silver medalist Matthew Hudson-Smith. These signings mark a historic second for Grand Slam Observe™, because it now has all three medalists from the Paris 2024 Olympic 400m podium, with Muzala Samukonga, who gained bronze, already on board.
“Quincy and Matthew are implausible additions to Grand Slam Observe™,” stated Michael Johnson, the league’s founder and Commissioner. “They’ve each had unimaginable seasons, particularly with their performances in Paris, and so they’re clearly on the prime of their recreation. What we’re constructing right here is all about bringing collectively one of the best athletes worldwide and creating actual competitors that followers can get behind. Quincy and Matthew are the sort of racers who can elevate any occasion, and I’m wanting ahead to seeing what they convey to the desk in our inaugural season.”
Corridor, a Kansas Metropolis native, established himself as one of many nation’s prime sprinters on the College of South Carolina, the place he grew to become a four-time All-American and gained the 2019 NCAA Championship. He made an unforgettable Olympic debut in Paris, successful gold within the 400m with a personal-best time of 43.40. His efficiency, which broke a 16-year drought for the U.S. within the occasion, made him the fourth-fastest 400m runner of all time. His victory on the Olympics capped off a formidable 2023 season, which included a bronze medal within the 400m on the World Championships and a gold medal within the 4x400m relay. Corridor is about to proceed his dominant rise on the world stage with Grand Slam Observe™.
“This can be a nice alternative with Grand Slam Observe™,” stated Corridor. “Profitable gold in Paris was an enormous second for me, however I’m at all times on the lookout for the following problem, and this league is giving us one thing new. I really like the concept of a league centered on racing head-to-head towards one of the best on the planet, which supplies us a brand new platform to try this. I do know there’s much more I can do, and I’m able to see how far I can push myself on this league.”
Hudson-Smith, one in all Nice Britain’s most embellished sprinters, made his third Olympic look in Paris 2024, delivering one of many best performances of his profession. Hudson-Smith took house silver within the 400m, setting a brand new European report and private better of 43.44, simply behind Corridor in one of many quickest Olympic 400m races ever. Along with his particular person silver, Hudson-Smith helped lead the Nice Britain 4x400m relay group to a bronze medal, breaking the British report. With six British titles and a number of international medals, together with silver and bronze on the World Championships and 4 golds on the European Championships, Hudson-Smith has solidified his standing as one of many prime 400m runners on the planet.
“I’ve been racing for a very long time, and what actually stands out about Grand Slam Observe™ is the possibility to strategy the game from a special approach,” stated Hudson-Smith. “I’ve had success on the world stage, however this league creates a brand new alternative to compete otherwise. I’m able to convey my expertise, maintain bettering, and race alongside a number of the greatest athletes on the planet. It’s a good time for observe, and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Every year, 48 athletes will likely be named to the league as Grand Slam Observe™ Racers. Corridor and Hudson-Smith be part of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Melissa Jefferson, Masai Russell, Fred Kerley, Kenny Bednarek, Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse, Josh Kerr, Cyrena Samba-Mayela, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Alison Dos Santos, Muzala Samukonga, and Clement Ducos because the Racers introduced as signees to this point. These racers are chosen by the Grand Slam Observe™ Racing Committee based mostly on a mixture of things to incorporate the quickest and greatest racers in every race group, with a concentrate on fierce rivalries and thrilling aggressive racing. Grand Slam Observe™ Racers decide to racing in all 4 Slams per yr. They are going to obtain an annual base compensation for racing in every Slam and are eligible for complete prize cash. These Grand Slam Observe™ Racers will obtain annual contracts, entry to the Grand Slam Observe™ content material and knowledge providers group, inclusion within the league collective, group licensing, new income alternatives, and world-class athlete help providers all through the season. Grand Slam Observe™ Racers are compensated below contract to race and promote the league and obtain further advertising and branding help.
The remaining 48 racers will likely be referred to as Grand Slam Observe™ Challengers and will likely be paid a set look price to compete at particular person Slams. The Grand Slam Observe™ Racing Committee chooses Grand Slam Observe™ Challengers based mostly on numerous elements, together with latest performances and essentially the most intriguing athletes and matchups.
Racers and Challengers will likely be assigned to compete in one of many following classes and can all race in two occasions throughout every Slam: quick sprints (100m/200m), quick hurdles (100H or 110H/100m), lengthy sprints (200m/400m), lengthy hurdles (400H/400m), quick distance (800m/1500m), or lengthy distance (3000m/5000m). The mixed ending order between the 2 races will decide all opponents’ last placement scores. Within the occasion of a tie throughout the 2 occasions, the athlete who had the quickest mixed time throughout the 2 races will likely be deemed the winner. The winner of every Slam group will take house $100,000 in prize cash, and the Eighth-place competitor will earn $10,000. Grand Slam Observe™ could have $12.6m of prize cash awarded throughout the slams annually along with the bottom compensation and look charges paid to racers.
The main focus of Grand Slam Observe™ is on head-to-head competitors, not successful occasions. There will likely be no rabbits or pacing lights. Every Slam is equally essential as every other, could have its personal prize purse, and will likely be independently scored, with factors and former finishes not carrying over to the next Slams. All racers will compete twice over the three-day occasion, and all Slam occasions will meet World Athletics laws, with achieved marks being eligible for rankings and requirements.
Racers will compete in their very own sponsored kits with out conventional hip numbers or bibs. Racers and Challengers are inspired to work with their sponsors to create custom-made kits of their desired model. Grand Slam Observe™ has no affiliation or sponsorship settlement with any shoe firm; all shoe firms are thought-about essential stakeholders and companions in selling our racers.
Grand Slam Observe™ has secured greater than $30 million in monetary commitments from buyers and strategic companions for the league launch. Winners Alliance, a world, athlete-centric
industrial answer, and Johnson’s working associate was the lead investor within the first fundraising shut for the brand new enterprise. The funding within the league will support in Johnson’s final purpose: to develop higher engagement with followers by selling observe and area’s largest stars and reaching new audiences with distinctive, revolutionary storytelling.
Ticket gross sales data will likely be launched quickly. For additional data, please observe @GrandSlamTrack on all social media platforms and go to grandslamtrack.com.
About Michael Johnson
Born in Dallas, Texas, Michael Johnson is a Corridor of Fame observe and area star, universally acknowledged as one of many best sprinters ever. He gained 4 Olympic gold medals and eight World Championships and held world and Olympic information within the 200m and 400m races. On the 1996 Olympic Video games in Atlanta, Johnson grew to become the primary and solely male athlete to win the Gold medal within the 200m and 400m on the identical Olympics. Since retiring from energetic competitors, Johnson has grow to be a serial entrepreneur, investor, extremely sought-after efficiency mindset speaker, and an award-winning tv commentator. Johnson has been a pundit for the BBC’s protection of each Olympic Video games since Athens 2004 and stays a vital voice on and advocate for the game. Johnson was inducted into the US Observe and Subject Corridor of Fame in 2004.