4-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson has agreed to refund $726,000 (US$500,000) after claims emerged that he “secretly” paid himself simply days earlier than his Grand Slam Observe (GST) league collapsed.
5 Australians competed within the inaugural season together with Jessica Hull, Abbey Caldwell, Sarah Carli, Peter Bol and Ky Robinson.
Athletes are nonetheless owed thousands and thousands, having solely obtained partial fee for his or her providers.
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They have been promised profitable prize cash and salaries within the competitors’s inaugural season, however the closing occasion was cancelled and organisers later voluntarily filed for chapter within the US.
An American court docket submitting by distributors claimed eight days earlier than the collapse, Johnson “secretly” paid himself $US500,000.
In Might 2025, Johnson greater than US$2m into the enterprise, after an investor, Eldridge Industries, determined to not throw within the $US40m they initially agreed to.
A GST spokesman disputed the accusation as “unfounded and false”.
Michael Johnson in June 2025. Getty
“Whereas Mr Johnson has been clear that the $500k was a reimbursement and never a fee, to keep away from disruption and proceed transferring ahead he and Winners Alliance have agreed to fund the $500k to the plan so that every one collectors can profit and obtain a higher distribution in reference to the corporate’s reorganisation and efforts to resurrect the league,” a GST spokesperson stated.
Johnson’s spokesperson added: “Michael has asserted defences to the declare, together with that this was a partial reimbursement of over $US2m of bills superior by Michael for the advantage of the athletes.”
GST has reportedly agreed to amend its plan to get out of chapter. Sources informed the BBC the brand new supply would imply athletes obtained 70 per cent of their prize cash however unsecured collectors would solely be given round 15 per cent.
Hull was the one Australian contracted to compete in all 4 GST occasions and is owed greater than the opposite Aussies.
The Olympic silver medallist assured for herself $142,000 in prize cash together with her performances in Kingston, Miami and Philadelphia.
That doesn’t embody a base fee she was assured.
Jessica Hull. Getty
“I do not assume Michael Johnson went on the market to rort individuals of cash. I do not assume these have been his intentions in any respect,” Hull’s father Simon informed Large World of Sports activities in December.
“It is not the best marketing strategy when you do not even have the money within the financial institution however you might be promising a supply. So there have been a couple of errors clearly made on his half.
“I believe he meant to attempt to put some development into the game, get extra eyeballs on it.
“So, no, I do not assume he went in with flawed intentions, as a result of then swiftly he is gone from American hero to, ‘Oh, this man’s ripped off all these athletes’.
“Clearly you do not wanna see her lose cash. It is irritating. I would like to see her receives a commission. She did a whole lot of promotional stuff for them.
“However on the finish of the day, if they do not have the cash, they do not have the cash.
“You’re taking a danger while you enroll with a brand new enterprise. You are hoping that it form of does what it is talked as much as do, however it simply did not ship on the finish of the day.”
