After the unveiling of Kingston, Jamaica as on of the four hosts for Grand Slam track in 2025 as well as Los Angeles, USA, the four-time Olympic champion tips the two track and field powerhouse nations to rekindle rivalry.
American sprint legend Michael Johnson, founder of the new Grand Slam Track League, recently highlighted Jamaica’s extraordinary legacy in track and field, emphasizing the country’s unique contribution to the sport as Jamaica prepares to host one of the league’s four premier events in 2025.
Kingston, Jamaica, will be one of the venues alongside Los Angeles, giving a nod to the vibrant rivalry between Jamaica and the USA.
Despite its relatively small population of around 3 million compared to the USA's 300 million, Jamaica has consistently held its own against its larger counterpart, producing world-class athletes and thrilling head-to-head competitions on the global stage.
Johnson noted that the island’s achievements are a testament to its powerful sprinting culture, a heritage that has shaped the identity of Jamaican athletics.
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“As a historian of the sport myself, I understand the impact Jamaica has had globally on track and field,” Johnson shared via Jamaican News outlet CVM TV.
“This is a country of less than three million people but competes head-to-head and toe-to-toe with a country of 300 million people in the US in track and field. When you travel the world, people immediately associate Jamaica with sprinting and track. For us, as a new league trying to innovate, it’s vital to honor the sport's heritage, and Jamaica is a core part of that story.”
Johnson explained that the Grand Slam Track League aims to both innovate and preserve the sport's legacy by celebrating nations that have helped build it.
“We are ambitious about honoring the sport’s heritage while adapting it for modern times Jamaica’s track and field heritage is essential to that vision.”
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The league has already attracted prominent names from both the US and Jamaica. Among the American stars are Olympians Fred Kerley, Kenny Bednarek, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Masai Russell, Jasmine Jones, and Shamier Little.
Representing Jamaica will be a strong lineup featuring Rushell Clayton, Ackera Nugent, and Roshawn Clarke, along with other talented athletes who are set to deliver memorable performances.