Olympic and world champion Grant Holloway has officially ruled himself out of Michael Johnson’s much-hyped Grand Slam Track (GST) series, choosing instead to stay laser-focused on the hurdles amid an ongoing recovery from injury.
The Grand Slam Track has been billed as a game-changing series for track and field, promising six-figure paydays and star-studded sprint showdowns. While big names are lining up to chase the prize, Holloway, widely regarded as one of the greatest hurdlers of his generation, has no intention of taking part.
Speaking candidly on the Ready Set Go Podcast, Holloway addressed the speculation directly.
“I’m not in it,” the reigning 110m hurdles world champion said.
“I haven’t signed up for any Grand Slams. I don’t have any desire to do any Grand Slams this year. Maybe next year, we’ll see what happens, but for now — I’m not in it at all.”
Holloway praised the new format for bringing fresh energy to track and field. He acknowledged its potential to attract new fans and stir up excitement in the sport.
“It’s a great thing for the sport,” Holloway noted.
“Whether it lasts a week or a decade, anything that puts more eyes on track and field is good for all of us. But I’m staying in my lane — hurdles only.”
Setbacks and Injury Woes in 2025
The announcement comes at a challenging time for Holloway. After kicking off 2025 by clinching his third consecutive World Athletics Indoor Championships title in the 60m hurdles, the season quickly took a difficult turn.
At the Tom Jones Invitational, Holloway was edged out by Trey Cunningham in a rare defeat, finishing second in 13.18 seconds. The shock result was followed by Xiamen Diamond League, where Holloway placed 10th in 13.72 seconds.
Days later, Chase Athletics revealed the cause of his struggles. A freak knee injury sustained during a heavy front squat session earlier in the year.
“Thirty minutes later, my knee swelled up like a balloon,” Holloway recounted.
The injury forced him to withdraw from Shanghai Diamond League appearance, and his recovery timeline remains uncertain. His Coach Regis hinted that while the focus is on rehabilitation, Grant’s competitive fire remains intact.
“He’s a 110m hurdler through and through — that’s where his heart is, and that’s what he wants to focus on,” Regis told LetsRun.com.
Looking Ahead
Despite the setbacks, Grant Holloway isn’t ruling out a return to other competitive opportunities in the future.
For now, the Olympic gold medalist has his sights set firmly on recovery and a strong comeback later in the season, with one eye on defending his world and Olympic titles.
