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Former sprinter, Rae Monzavous Edwards, thinks money grows on trees. Edwards slammed Michael Johnson and the new Grand Slam Track series for offering low appearance fees to American sprinters Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles.
$40,000 is not enough
According to Edwards, a $40,000 appearance fee is not enough, despite the opportunity for both athletes to earn up to $400,000.
I thought this too. Until I was told that they offered one of the most decorated sprinters of our time and in history only $40k to sign with them! I literally JUST found this out! The amount of disrespect $40k is to this athlete is laughable! https://t.co/S9GMGSmepl
— Raes Take TV (@RaesTake) December 19, 2024
What Edwards fails to understand is that a start-up business with no guarantees for success cannot bury itself out of the gate. To dig a financial hole in the hopes that the broadcasters will monetize and the athletes will draw the crowds makes no sense. Fiscal responsibility is important off the gun. When and if the Grand Slam Track series makes profits, only then should more money be spent to attract the likes of Lyles and Richardson, who are not guaranteed to win anyway. Both have lost and won at critical times in their careers.
Missing out on an opportunity to make up to $400,000 may prove to be a poorly calculated move.
Racing is a high-risk and high-reward venture for sprinters in terms of injuries and timing seasonal peaks well, but sitting on the sidelines yields nothing.
Edwards on X
“I’m not going to lie, I’m a little disappointed that the two most famous American track athletes outside of Track & Field, Noah and Sha’Carri, aren’t signed to Grand Slam. I would expect this if it were a European or Jamaican-based startup league. Actually… I take that back. I don’t think they would have not signed them either. I’m disappointed and confused about this,” wrote Edwards.
Richardson and Lyles turned down the opportunity to race in the inaugural Grand Slam Track series, meanwhile, a bevy of big names signed on.
Four-time Olympic gold medallist Johnson announced in June the new premier global track league will offer a prize purse of $12.6 million. The winner of each respective Slam group will take home $100,000 in prize money.
“What’s exciting is that in this new role, I’m able to bring athletes and fans what they’ve been asking for and just screaming out for, more head-to-head matchups, more fans getting to know these athletes, athletes able to connect better with their fans, athletes being able to realize more value for themselves,” said Johnson.
