What’s Happening
On their “Beyond The Records” podcast, Noah Lyles, Rai Benjamin, and two-time Olympic relay gold medalist Vernon Norwood discussed their concerns about the Grand Slam Track League. Lyles and Benjamin, who hold a combined seven Olympic medals and 12 World Championships medals, were critical of the league’s structure but expressed hope for its success.
Why It Matters
The Grand Slam Track League aims to revolutionize track and field by offering professional athletes consistent financial opportunities and creating a home for U.S. track meets. However, skepticism from high-profile athletes like Lyles and Benjamin underscores the challenges ahead.
The Bigger Picture
The discussion highlighted the long-standing issue of athlete compensation in track and field. Benjamin argued that Olympic champions should earn at least $5 million, a stark contrast to the reality where most athletes struggle to find consistent income outside of sponsorship deals.
Key Takeaways from the Podcast
- Scheduling Concerns: Benjamin criticized the tight competition schedule, which requires back-to-back races early in the season, raising injury risks and hampering training for major championships.
- Financial Viability: Lyles questioned the Grand Slam Track’s business model, pointing out the lack of visible outside sponsors and unclear long-term sustainability.
- Professionalism Debate: The trio discussed whether track and field should separate from USA Track & Field (USATF) and establish a fully professional league. Lyles suggested a new league should handle professional events while USATF focuses on amateur competitions.
The Financial Reality of the Olympics
Olympic athletes often receive no prize money from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) despite the billions of dollars generated through broadcast rights and sponsorships. The IOC’s revenue for the 2017-2020 cycle exceeded $7.6 billion, with nearly 75% from broadcasting deals. However, athletes often rely on national federations or sponsorships for compensation.
In contrast, World Athletics, the sport’s governing body, introduced prize money for World Championships performances, with $50,000 awarded to gold medalists at the Paris 2024 championships. While this is a step forward, it still pales in comparison to the $5 million figure Benjamin proposed, which would be closer to the eight and nine figure salaries earned by most pro team sports athletes.
What’s Next?
The first Grand Slam Track event is scheduled for April 4-6 in Kingston, Jamaica. Norwood, who is set to participate as a “Challenger,” emphasized the importance of drawing in more fans and big-name athletes to make the series a success. Both Lyles and Benjamin, currently not participating, expressed willingness to reconsider if changes were made to the competition structure and scheduling.
Bottom Line
While the Grand Slam Track circuit offers potential, it faces an uphill battle convincing top athletes to participate. Unless the league can address scheduling issues, secure robust sponsorships, and provide clear financial incentives, it may struggle to gain traction in an already fragmented track and field landscape. And pro track athletes are a long way off from being paid anywhere near what their team sports colleagues earn.
