On Wednesday evening, Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles sat down with ESPN for an unique one-on-one interview, reflecting at the Paris Olympics, his attainable race with NFL receiver Tyreek Hill and the way forward for observe and box within the U.S. When requested about his attainable involvement in new observe undertaking, Grand Slam Monitor (GST)—which has already signed Olympic dash medallists Fred Kerley and Kenny Bednarek—Lyles mentioned he used to be non-committal.
“For my part, I simply wish to see a TV supplier,” Lyles mentioned at the prospect of him becoming a member of GST. “The issue with our game presently is that we have got nice performances, however no person’s ready to look them. So, till I listen a couple of TV sponsor [for GST], I don’t know that I will come to a decision but.”
Grand Slam Monitor used to be introduced previous this 12 months through four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson. The undertaking goals to create a brand new skilled observe league that brings in combination the sector’s highest sprinters and distance runners for 4 marquee meets in 2025. The league’s imaginative and prescient is to lift the game through providing a singular platform for most sensible athletes to compete for a complete prize pool of $12.6 million, very similar to the buildings noticed in tennis and golfing majors.
Every Grand Slam tournament will award $100,000 to the winner, with even remaining position taking house $10,000—prizes related to these of the Diamond League Ultimate for the 2025 season.
“We may have the best performances on the Grand Slam Monitor, however, you understand, if a tree falls in the midst of the woods and no person’s there to look it, did it in reality fall?” Lyles reiterated. Regardless of the skepticism, the 27-year-old expressed admiration for Johnson’s new-league efforts. “What Johnson is doing for the game is superb, and I understand how onerous it’s to create a league and cross towards the grain.”
Johnson, in the meantime, has been open about his need to have Lyles sign up for GST. In an interview with TMZ Sports activities, Johnson mentioned, “Noah’s undoubtedly a kind of guys. I imply, Noah is the quickest… The ones kinds of athletes are the folk we need to be a part of this league.”
GST has already publicized the signing of 7 different elite athletes, together with American 100m sprinter Melissa Jefferson, 400m hurdles global document holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Olympic 1,500m champion Cole Hocker, silver medallist Josh Kerr and bronze medallist Yared Nuguse. The league plans to recruit a complete of 48 athletes.