4-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson has spoken publicly for the primary time since Grand Slam Monitor went bankrupt, and has clarified particulars of funds to himself and competing athletes.
Contracted runners had been promised profitable prize cash and salaries within the competitors’s inaugural season final 12 months, however the ultimate occasion in Los Angeles was cancelled and organisers voluntarily filed for chapter within the US in December 2025.
A number of high-profile athletes had been owed funds over £100,000, together with British former world 1500m champion Josh Kerr and 2024 Olympic 400m silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith.
In an interview with the Telegraph, exterior printed on Saturday, Johnson mentioned he has now “bought the athletes paid”, after a “catastrophic capital problem” was attributable to traders pulling out.
The Affiliation of Athletics Managers, which represents numerous rivals, mentioned in January that GST had money owed of greater than $30m (£22.5m).
In March 2026, a authorized submitting by GST’s collectors accused Johnson of “secretly” paying himself $500,000 (£375,000) days earlier than the season collapsed, a declare a GST consultant mentioned on the time was “unfounded and false”.
“I am blissful to clear it up, as a result of it is essentially the most hurtful factor and the precise reverse of what was reported,” Johnson informed The Telegraph.
“Our bank card was full at Grand Slam Monitor, as a result of we had been dealing with vital cash-flow points.
“We had 96 athletes, plus companions, whom we wanted to fly to Miami and Philadelphia. We had 170 individuals to deal with in resorts in each cities, and the bank card had no room left.
“I instructed our journey crew to place it on my bank card, and I might be reimbursed for it. So, what I acquired was reimbursement.
“I additionally loaned the corporate $2m to verify we took care of the athletes. I made a decision to forgo my very own wage.”
Johnson mentioned in March he would repay the $500,000 GST.
“I positively had nights the place I did not sleep, the place I might be awake considering: ‘That is on me. This headline simply got here out – do the athletes imagine that?’,” Johnson mentioned.
“These issues weighed on me very closely, and on my household as effectively. I used to be asking myself: ‘Are you silly? Why did you do that? This isn’t what you want.’
“That was essentially the most tough a part of this. Questioning my motivation for doing this, questioning my integrity, questioning my character.”
Johnson has been a pundit and commentator for the BBC since 2001 however has not labored for the broadcaster for the reason that Paris 2024 Olympics as he centered his consideration on GST.
