Michael Johnson, the founder of Grand Slam Track and a four-time Olympic champion, has revealed why he believes track and field is uniquely positioned to thrive in today’s fast-paced digital world.
According to Johnson, the sport’s natural format makes it perfect for a generation that consumes content in short, engaging bursts.
“Two-thirds of our races take place in under one minute,” he explained. “It’s quick, it’s fast, and the content is just amazing from a storytelling standpoint.”
However, the action under Grand Slam isn’t just on the track , it’s in how the races are packaged. Each event, from introduction to climax and celebration.
“We can give you the protagonist, the heroes and the villains. We can set it up, run the race, and celebrate it on the other side, all in three minutes.”
Thus, that structure has made Grand Slam content highly shareable across social platforms, with Johnson noting a strong response online.
“What we’re seeing with Grand Slam Track is our content on social. The engagement level is extremely high because of that.”
GST Viewers
Beyond just the race format, Johnson shows positivity by who is tuning in. In its first season, Grand Slam Track attracted a remarkably diverse and youthful U.S. audience.
Meanwhile, nearly half , 48% of its viewers were women, while 44% identified as Black and 12% as Latina. Most notably, 60% of the viewership was under the age of 35.
“This is not just our league, this is the sport,” Michael Johnson said. “It’s a very unique opportunity to reach those hard-to-reach markets. The athletes are diverse, and the stories are very diverse and compelling.”
The final leg of Grand Slam Track was cancelled. The fourth event in the inaugural GST season was set to take place in Los Angeles from 27-29 June. Fans will now wait till next year for more promising thrilling action.