The running community faces a significant setback following the bankruptcy declaration of Grand Slam Track (GST), a league established to revitalize the sport by injecting substantial financial incentives for athletes and related vendors. The league's failure, publicly affirmed until its bankruptcy filing, has left a wide range of stakeholders confronting unpaid sums that cast uncertainty on their financial security.
A particularly affected individual is Eric Edwards Jr., a 26-year-old hurdler in the early stages of his athletic career. Edwards anticipated the earnings from GST to cover essential living expenses such as rent, fuel, and training costs. According to bankruptcy documents, he is still owed upwards of $19,000. While modest compared to the aggregate debts, this figure is significant for an athlete without major sponsorships or lucrative deals.
Edwards recounted his initial reaction upon learning that GST promised $12.8 million in prize money and bonuses to selected participants. "I’m like, y’all are crazy," he said, remarking on the unlikely scale of payouts.如今，更令人难以置信的是支付问题。Edwards表示，“我从未想过一个赛事会出现不支付奖金的情况。”
Concerns extend beyond individual athletes, with the Association of Athletics Managers (AAM)—which represents approximately 80% of medal-winning track and field athletes from recent international competitions—expressing disapproval regarding GST’s intentions to relaunch later this year. AAM’s statement criticizes the planned allocation of $400,000 for new athlete recruitment targeted for the 2026 season, to be funded before settling outstanding payments from 2025. The group explicitly stated it does not support these plans.
Attempts to obtain commentary from GST’s president and CEO, Steve Gera, who is himself listed as owed more than $170,000 in bankruptcy claims, were unsuccessful as inquiries were not returned. GST’s next bankruptcy-related filing is due imminently, with a hearing scheduled shortly thereafter.
The league’s financial disclosures reveal that Michael Johnson, a sprinting legend who conceptualized the GST league, loaned it $2.2 million in May just prior to a critical event in Philadelphia. This loan remains unpaid. The league was forced to cancel its fourth planned competition, slated for Los Angeles, due to these financial difficulties.
Additionally, several Olympic medalists and world champions, including Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ($268,750), Gabby Thomas ($185,625), Marileidy Paulino ($173,125), and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden ($175,375), are among the largest unsecured creditors. These athletes were part of GST’s initiative to reestablish track and field as a viable professional career, despite the sport's diminished mainstream prominence in recent decades. Early signs of trouble emerged at the first meet in Jamaica when reports indicated athlete and vendor payments were delayed or missing.
For elite athletes like McLaughlin-Levrone and Thomas, the withheld six-figure amounts represent significant, but potentially manageable, financial setbacks since track remains their primary profession. In contrast, for athletes like Edwards who lack substantial endorsement deals, the GST funding shortfalls have been deeply disruptive. Though he received approximately half the amount owed, the missing payments are critical. Edwards has had to supplement his income by taking a part-time delivery role at Amazon and has relocated back to his family home in Houston to reduce living costs.
He described a typical day during his return to Houston: beginning at dawn with solitary training sessions guided remotely by his coach, followed by a lengthy work shift. Despite his world ranking at 15th among hurdlers, Edwards highlighted the financial disparity compared to athletes in more lucrative sports such as the NFL or NBA, noting the difficulty of sustaining himself solely on track income.
With over two years until the next Summer Olympics, Edwards continues to view the Games as his ultimate goal and potential path to financial stability. However, the collapse of GST has pushed back prospects for immediate earning relief, leaving him focused on daily survival while holding on to his athletic aspirations.
His reflection on personal ambitions underscores a broader theme: many professional runners still struggle for economic security despite their international rankings and achievements. The GST bankruptcy starkly illustrates the precarious financial realities facing track athletes and the potential fragility of sporting leagues relying on unproven economic models.