'We are missing the infrastructure to setup track and field well' - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

World and Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone delved into the major issues facing professional track and field, using Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track's bankruptcy as case study.

The American sprint queen who's owed a significant sum by the now-bankrupt Grand Slam Track (GST), looked beyond her personal financial loss to address the systemic issues plaguing the sport.

In a recent interview with Forbes, McLaughlin-Levrone acknowledged the ambitious vision behind new ventures like GST while pointing out the critical elements still missing for the sport's long-term success.

“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.

Launched in 2025 with events in Kingston, Miami, and Philadelphia, GST aimed to build sustained fan engagement through a series format, offering a lucrative $100,000 prize for each race winner. However, the league's ambitions crumbled under financial pressure, leading it to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware.

“Obviously, there were issues on the back end there with the money side of things,” McLaughlin-Levrone stated bluntly.

She also noted the emergence of other leagues like Athlos, backed by Alexis Ohanian, which excelled in marketing. Its debut featured Grammy-winner Megan Thee Stallion and celebrity guests like Flavor Flav, gaining extensive coverage on platforms such as ESPN+ and YouTube. Yet, McLaughlin-Levrone believes that flashy promotion isn't enough.

“I think being able to have both of those things combined—both the structure and the marketing—is something that is missing in track and field,” the world record holder explained.

While GST offered larger prize purses than Athlos, which awarded $60,000 for first place, neither model has proven sustainable. McLaughlin-Levrone argues that the sport needs a solid foundation to truly thrive.

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

She identified several key areas for improvement: “Part of it is definitely the money to create a sustainable model... a lot of it comes down to sponsorships… viewership… TV deals. We need people to be able to see these events. Because when people know it is on, like the Olympics, they love track and field. It is one of the biggest sports to watch. I just don’t think they have the access to us right now,” she concluded.