Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Breaks Silence on Grand Slam Track Issues Amid $356,250 Debt

Despite being owed $356,250 by the now-bankrupt Grand Slam Track (GST), Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is looking beyond her personal financial loss to address the systemic issues plaguing professional track and field.

In a recent interview with Forbes, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone acknowledged the ambitious vision behind GST, which aimed to create a more engaging, professional circuit for the sport.

"This year, I know Grand Slam Track tried to pursue something a bit more professional, which I think the model of it really gave fans something exciting to look forward to," she said.

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Launched in 2025, the Grand Slam Track series featured stops in Kingston, Miami, and Philadelphia, promising substantial prize money, including $100,000 for each event winner.

The goal was to build sustained fan interest throughout a season, a departure from the sport's traditional focus on single, high-profile events like the Olympics. However, the venture collapsed under mounting debt, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware.

"Obviously, there were issues on the back end there with the money side of things," Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone stated, directly addressing the financial failure.

While Grand Slam Track faltered on its financial promises, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone pointed to other new leagues, like Alexis Ohanian's Athlos, as examples of successful marketing.

The inaugural Athlos event featured a star-studded lineup with Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion and celebrity guests like Flavor Flav and Shonda Rhimes, securing broad coverage on platforms such as ESPN+, YouTube, and DAZN.

However, the four-time Olympic champion emphasised that marketing alone is not enough. She believes the sport's future depends on combining strong promotional efforts with a stable, well-funded structure.

"I think being able to have both of those things combined with both the structure and the marketing is something that is missing in track and field," she explained.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone argued that the sport already possesses the key ingredients for success: compelling athletes and powerful narratives. The problem, she noted, is the lack of infrastructure to showcase them effectively.

"We have such stars, and there are so many amazing storylines that could be followed," she said. "I think right now we are missing that infrastructure to really set it up well."

The 400m hurdles world record holder identified several critical needs, including sustainable funding through sponsorships and, crucially, accessible television deals.

"We need people to be able to see these events... Because when people know it is on, the Olympics, they love track and field. It is one of the biggest sports to watch. I just don't think they have access to us right now."

This accessibility issue is highlighted by the Diamond League, the sport's premier annual circuit, which has sold most of its live broadcast rights to the subscription service FloTrack.

This paywall model limits viewership and prevents the sport from reaching a broader audience on free-to-air television.