Grand Slam Track Announces Appointment of Robert F. Smith to Board of Directors
Published at 2:00 PM 11/8/2024
Smith brings his expertise, passion, and business acumen to help lead revolutionary track league starting competition in 2025 to future successes.
New York, NY (November 8th, 2024) – Grand Slam Track™, the new global home of professional track competition, launched earlier this year by four-time US Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, announced today that Robert F. Smith has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Smith, a visionary leader in the business world, brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to excellence that perfectly aligns with Grand Slam Track™’s mission to elevate the sport.
“We are incredibly honored to welcome Robert F. Smith to Grand Slam Track™,” said Michael Johnson, the league’s founder and Commissioner. “His dedication to pushing boundaries and empowering others inspires us all. Robert’s passion for sports and his commitment to building a brighter future resonate deeply with our vision for Grand Slam Track™, and we are thrilled to have him join our team.”
Beyond his role as the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, a leading global private equity firm, Smith is a renowned philanthropist with a deep commitment to providing access to opportunities for all communities. Smith’s addition to the Grand Slam Track™ Board of Directors marks a significant step forward for the league, solidifying its position as a leader in revolutionizing professional track. With the support of such a prominent figure, Grand Slam Track™ is poised to deliver an unparalleled experience for athletes and fans alike. Smith joins Johnson on Grand Slam Track™'s board along with Ahmad Nassar and Eric Winston from Winners Alliance and Steve Gera from Grand Slam Track™.
“This is a project I deeply believe in, and am delighted to be a part of,” said Smith. “Track has always been a sport that celebrates dedication, hard work, and the pursuit of greatness. I am excited to now join Grand Slam Track™ and work with MJ to play a part in elevating the sport, while inspiring a new generation of athletes and fans around the world.”
Each year, 48 athletes will be named to the league as GST Racers. The roster of Racers already announced as signees is: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Melissa Jefferson, Masai Russell, Quincy Hall, Fred Kerley, Kenny Bednarek, Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse, Grant Fisher, Josh Kerr, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Ackera Nugent, Roshawn Clarke, Nikki Hiltz, Cyrena Samba-Mayela, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Tsigie Gebreselama, Agnes Ngetich, Alison Dos Santos, Ronald Kwemoi, Muzala Samukonga, Clement Ducos, Marileidy Paulino, Devon Allen, Marco Arop, Jereem Richards, Rushell Clayton, Jess Hull, Shamier Little, Jasmine Jones, Daniel Roberts, & Luis Grijalva. These racers are selected by the Grand Slam Track™ Racing Committee based on a combination of factors to include the fastest and best racers in each race group, with a focus on fierce rivalries and thrilling competitive racing. GST Racers commit to racing in all four Slams per year. They will receive an annual base compensation for racing in each Slam and are eligible for full prize money. These GST Racers will receive annual contracts, access to the GST content and data services team, inclusion in the league collective, group licensing and new revenue opportunities, plus access to world class athlete support services throughout the season. GST racers are compensated under contract to race and promote the league and receive additional marketing and branding support.
The remaining 48 racers will be known as GST Challengers and will be paid a set appearance fee to compete at individual Slams. GST Challengers are chosen by the Grand Slam Track™ Racing Committee based on a combination of factors including recent performances, and the most intriguing athletes and matchups.
Racers and Challengers will be assigned to compete in one of the following categories, and will all race in two events during each Slam: short sprints (100m/200m), short hurdles (100H or 110H/100m), long sprints (200m/400m), long hurdles (400H/400m), short distance (800m/1500m), or long distance (3000m/5000m). All competitors’ final placement score will be determined by their combined finishing order between the two races. In the event of a tie across the two events, it will be the athlete who had the quickest combined time across the two races who will be deemed the winner. The winner of each Slam group will take home $100,000 in prize money, and the 8th place competitor will earn $10,000. Grand Slam Track™ will have a total of $12.6m of prize money that will be awarded across the slams each year in addition to the base compensation and appearance fees paid to racers.
The focus of Grand Slam Track™ is on head to head competition, not winning times. There will be no rabbits or pacing lights. Each Slam is equally as important as any other, will have its own prize purse, and will be independently scored, with points and previous finishes not carrying over to the following Slams. All racers will compete twice over the three-day event, and all Slam events will meet World Athletics regulations, with achieved marks being eligible for rankings and standards.
Racers will compete in their own sponsored kits, without traditional hip numbers or bibs. Racers and Challengers are encouraged to work with their sponsors to create customized kits, in their own desired style. Grand Slam Track™ has no affiliation or sponsorship agreement with any shoe company; all shoe companies are considered to be important stakeholders and partners in the promotion of our racers.
Grand Slam Track™ has secured more than $30 million in financial commitments from investors and strategic partners for the launch of the league. Winners Alliance, a global, athlete-centric
commercial solution and Johnson’s operating partner, was the lead investor in the first fundraising close for the new venture. The investment in the league will aid in Johnson’s ultimate goal: to develop better engagement with fans by promoting track and field’s biggest stars and reaching new audiences with unique, innovative storytelling.
Ticket sales information will be released in due course. For further information, please follow @GrandSlamTrack on all social media platforms, and visit grandslamtrack.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Ben Sosenko
Callum Squires
About Michael Johnson
Born in Dallas, Texas, Michael Johnson is a Hall of Fame track and field star, universally recognized as one of the greatest sprinters of all time. He won four Olympic gold medals and eight World Championships across his career, and held world and Olympic records in both the 200m and 400m races. At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Johnson became the first and only male athlete to win the Gold medal in both the 200m and 400m at the same Olympics. Since retiring from active competition, Johnson has become a serial entrepreneur and investor, as well as highly sought after performance mindset speaker and an award winning television commentator. Johnson has been a pundit for the BBC’s coverage of every Olympics Games since Athens 2004, and remains a key voice on, and advocate for the sport. Johnson was inducted into the United States Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2004.
