Managers urge Grand Slam Track to pay athletes before scheduling '26 events

An organization that represents a majority of the world's leading track and field athletes wants Grand Slam Track to pay its 2025 debts before planning any 2026 events.

The Association of Athletics Managers warned commissioner Michael Johnson's embattled league that to do so "undermines trust across the entire ecosystem and sets a dangerous precedent for athletes, vendors, and future partners alike."

The AAM represents more than 80% of the athletes who earned medals during the most recent Olympics and World Championships.

Grand Slam Track filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a court filing last week, citing more than $40 million in debts and less than $1 million in total assets.

The league signed 48 of the world's top athletes to compete in four events with a $12.6 million prize pool. Only three events were held before the final scheduled meet in Los Angeles was canceled due to financial shortages.

At this point, only 50% of the money owed to athletes has been paid, according to The Athletic.

Only three of the events ended up being held -- in Miami, Philadelphia and Kingston, Jamaica -- before the final scheduled meet in Los Angeles was canceled.

Athletes listed as being owed money in the bankruptcy filing include four-time Olympic gold-medalist hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ($268,750), reigning U.S. 100-meter champion Kenny Bednarek ($195,000) and Olympic 200-meter gold medalist Gabby Thomas ($185,625).

Johnson, the former Olympic sprinting star, is also cited in the filing as being owed more than $2.4 million. He gave $2.25 million to the business in May 2025 in order to help its Philadelphia event proceed as scheduled.

The AAM, in a statement posted to its website Friday, acknowledged that it "took it on faith when Michael told us both publicly and privately that he had $30m in funding for GST."

"We call on Grand Slam Track to immediately prioritize the satisfactory repayment of all outstanding debts through the reorganization process before attempting to stage additional events or pursue new commercial opportunities," its statement read. "Accountability must come before expansion, and credibility must be rebuilt through action -- not promises."

--Field Level Media