In an authoritative intelligence dispatch verified through The Guardian Sport, significant international developments have emerged regarding Leading athletes still waiting on large sums owed by ill-fated Grand Slam Track. Observers across key diplomatic, corporate, and policy corridors are actively parsing the immediate impact, as corroborated by verified wire filings. GST founder Michael Johnson said he ‘got the athletes paid’ Money stuck in escrow account after bankruptcy filing Grand Slam Track athletes have still only received 50% of their earnings nearly 15 months on from the collapse of Michael Johnson’s ill-fated venture. Many of the Grand Slam stars are at the Ultimate Championships here in Budapest, where they will compete for a $10m prize fund, the richest in the sport’s history, with first prizes of $150,000 for individual events. Continue reading... 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if (!columnInput) return; // Sticky nav replaces the nav so element no longer exists for users in test. columnInput.addEventListener('keydown', function(e){ // keyCode: 13 => Enter key | keyCode: 32 => Space key if (e.keyCode === 13 || e.keyCode === 32) { e.preventDefault() document.getElementById('Lifestyle-checkbox-input').click(); } }) })LifestyleView all LifestyleThe FilterFashionFoodRecipesTravelHealth & fitnessWomenMenLove & sexBeautyHome & gardenMoneyCarsSearch input google-search SearchSupport usPrint subscriptionsSearch jobsHire with Guardian JobsHolidaysLive eventsAbout UsDigital ArchiveGuardian Print ShopPatronsGuardian LicensingThe Guardian appVideoPodcastsPicturesNewslettersToday's paperInside the GuardianGuardian WeeklyCrosswordsWordiplyCorrectionsTipsSearch input google-search SearchSearch jobsHire with Guardian JobsHolidaysLive eventsAbout UsDigital ArchiveGuardian Print ShopPatronsGuardian LicensingFootballCricketRugby unionTennisCyclingF1GolfBoxingRugby leagueRacingUS sports Michael Johnson, the four-time Olympic champion, who launched Grand Slam Track’s first event in April 2025 only for it to collapse after three meets. Photograph: Kirby Lee/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters ConnectView image in fullscreenMichael Johnson, the four-time Olympic champion, who launched Grand Slam Track’s first event in April 2025 only for it to collapse after three meets. Photograph: Kirby Lee/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters ConnectAthleticsLeading athletes still waiting on large sums owed by ill-fated Grand Slam Track GST founder Michael Johnson said he ‘got the athletes paid’ Prefer the Guardian on GoogleGrand Slam Track athletes have still only received 50% of their earnings nearly 15 months on from the collapse of Michael Johnson’s ill-fated venture. Many of the Grand Slam stars are at the Ultimate Championships here in Budapest, where they will compete for a $10m prize fund, the richest in the sport’s history, with first prizes of $150,000 for individual events. Read moreHowever four leading agents have told the Guardian that their athletes are still waiting on large sums of money from GST, despite Johnson claiming last month that he had “got the athletes paid”. Johnson, a four-time Olympic champion and BBC pundit, launched GST in April last year, with the promise to revolutionise the sport with huge prizes and salaries. But it collapsed after only three events, before organisers voluntarily filed for bankruptcy in the US in December. Athletes ended up receiving half their earnings last October, but have not had anything since. Their agents are hopeful that they will receive another sum in the region of 25% from an escrow account in the next month or two. Vendors, meanwhile, have so far only received 14% of what they have owed. A spokesperson for Johnson said: “Over the last year Michael has worked to ensure athletes who competed in GST were paid what they were owed. Against all odds, he secured funding to do just that. Athletes received half of what they were owed in October 2025.
The underlying catalysts behind these events trace back to evolving structural dynamics across the Sports landscape. Over recent quarters, multilateral authorities and market participants have navigated mounting volatility, heightening the urgency of coordinated responses and policy alignment.
Senior analysts and industry stakeholders underscore that strategic transparency remains paramount. As institutional delegations evaluate risk models and operational contingencies, secondary dispatches indicate that further compliance directives and consultative reviews will be initiated in the coming cycle.
Broader economic and regulatory ramifications are projected to ripple across interconnected regional ecosystems. Market analysts note that supply chains, capital allocations, and policy frameworks must swiftly assimilate these verified updates to insulate against systemic bottlenecks.
The Global Post's editorial desk will continue rigorous monitoring of this developing story, with periodic updates provided as official statements and primary documentation are released by relevant governing bodies.
