Kenyan Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi has officially signed with Grand Slam Track (GST), a newly established athletics league founded by sprint legend Michael Johnson. The 800m star will make his debut in the competition’s inaugural event in Kingston, Jamaica, this April.
The 20-year-old is coming off a stellar 2024 season, where he claimed Olympic gold in Paris and clinched the Diamond League title with an impressive 1:41.11 in Lausanne. His fierce rivalry with Canadian Marco Arop, the reigning world champion, will continue in the Kingston showdown.GST is designed to bring together top-tier athletes, offering high-stakes competitions and lucrative prize money. The 2025 season will feature four major slams in:
- Kingston, Jamaica (April 4-6)
- Miami, USA (early May)
- Philadelphia, USA (late May)
- Los Angeles, USA (June 27-29)
Each event will feature eight competitors per race, including four core racers and four challengers, such as Wanyonyi, who will compete in select events.Wanyonyi becomes the fourth Kenyan to join GST, alongside:
- Mary Moraa (women’s 800m world champion)
- Agnes Ng’etich (10km world record holder)
- Ronald Kwemoi (middle-distance runner)
International stars like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Fred Kerley, Gabby Thomas, and Marco Arop have also been confirmed.The Grand Slam Track has a $12.6 million prize pool, making it one of the most lucrative events in athletics. Race winners will pocket $100,000 (approx. Ksh 12.8M) per event, while core racers receive a base salary plus additional winnings.