The drama never stops for track and field. And for the Americans, more times than not, it is all about Noah Lyles. The man has taken it upon himself to single-handedly be the source of all that. From Fred Kerley to Tyreek Hill to now Michael Johnson, it’s as if Lyles craves being infamous. So what’s new? Well, there’s a new passing of the baton between Noah Lyles, Alexis Ohanian, and Michael Johnson. And it all started with the Grand Slam Track. But Lyles and Johnson already had their little chat. So what’s it all about now?
Well, that’s where Alexis Ohanian comes in. But what’s left to say? Lyles already pointed out the transparency and broadcasting issues of the league. And Johnson already had his moment when he insisted GST didn’t “need anyone else.” Well, Ohanian has been in the stands cheering for Lyles and his athlete-first approach. Interestingly, he is also the backer of the similarly planned Athlos League. Thus, he took jabs at GST’s restrictive rules.
Ohanian suggested they might be running in circles instead of building something bigger. Amid all this, Lyles continues to champion a team-up between the titans of the sport, hoping they’ll trade track wars for teamwork and create a league that truly goes the distance. In a candid conversation with Benjamin and Holloway in the recent episode of their podcast Beyond the Records, Lyles laid down a vision far bigger than individual leagues. Rather than seeing Athlos and Grand Slam Track battle it out for market share, he floated a revolutionary idea.
That is, uniting the forces. “I was talking to a few people about how great it would be if you know Alexis and Michael and even World Athletics or the Diamond League got together and say, hey let’s pull our money together and make something that the world has never seen,” he said. For Noah, it’s not about the ego—it’s about impact. “You know what’s $30 million if you can double that and then triple that… and then create an event like that,” he added.
The conversation with Rai Benjamin further emphasized the potential. Benjamin agreed with Lyles, suggesting that when you find venues and formats that work—like Diamond Leagues in Zurich or Monaco—you build on them, not splinter them. Both athletes recognized the importance of serving fans and athletes alike, not just maintaining personal power. Benjamin reflected, “I just wish they would have sat in a room… and been like, ‘Hey, like we want to make this thing great… let’s figure something out’.”
Ultimately, Lyles isn’t against competition, but he warns against division. The emergence of Athlos and GST may spark innovation, but also risks splintering attention. Instead of parallel tracks, he hopes for a powerful sprint in the same direction. Amid these discussions, Noah didn’t hold back when it came to expressing his take on Johnson’s GST. And he’s got questions that demand answers.
Noah Lyles ripped Grand Slam Track while backing out alongside Sha’Carri Richardson
While anticipation built for the launch of Grand Slam Track in Jamaica, the reigning men’s 100m Olympic champion made it clear he won’t be anywhere near the event. And neither will Sha’Carri Richardson. Lyles addressed his absence on his Beyond The Records podcast, making it known that a lack of strategic planning and commercial backing were red flags too big to ignore.
“Money is not the thing that’s going to drive me every time,” he said, before casting doubt on the league’s promotional efforts: “I haven’t even heard a block’s sponsor… I haven’t seen a commercial, I haven’t seen promos, and the promos I have seen are just athletes pointing at the camera.” His critique went deeper, hinting that the entire rollout felt premature.
“You know what I think they should do? I think they should allow one more year,” Lyles said. His take suggested a more centralized, sustainable approach based in the US. As for Richardson, she hasn’t commented publicly, but Lyles’ transparency makes one thing clear. Not everyone is convinced Grand Slam Track is ready for the spotlight. However, now, with the LA 2028 Olympics on the horizon, Lyles believes there’s never been a better moment to join forces and create something legendary, not just for themselves, but for the sport.
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