Olympic 800m champion turns down Grand Slam offer

Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson has declined an opportunity to join Grand Slam Track (GST). The Michael Johnson-owned event is a highly anticipated and lucrative new rival to the Diamond League.

Hodgkinson revealed that she snubbed the GST to focus on achieving personal milestones and winning medals in 2025. This is despite the allure of GST’s $400,000 (Ksh51,816,000) prize purse for winning all four events in its inaugural season.

Noah Lyles hint's on Tyreek Hill clash dates

Hodgkinson’s decision does not entirely rule out her participation in GST. She hopes to compete as one of the four Challengers.

Johnson has emphasized selecting Challengers based on their speed and popularity while fostering rivalries in the sport.

The Racers are guaranteed base compensation and can compete for the substantial overall prize while challengers have a single opportunity to claim the $100,000 (Ksh12,954,000) prize awarded at each event.

“I think it’s great what Johnson’s doing, I just don’t feel like it’s for me next year. I guess we’ll see where the league goes after that. But I look forward to hopefully doing one,” Hodgkinson told UK’s publication The Standard.

‘This is how I want the world to remember me’ - Sha’Carri Richardson

If Hodgkinson joins a GST event, she will face tough competition in the short-distance category, including 2023 world champion and 600m world record holder Mary Moraa, Olympic 1,500m silver medallist Jessica Hull, and American mile record holder Nikki Hiltz.

GST’s rules require athletes to compete in two events per Slam. For Hodgkinson, this would mean racing the 800m and the 1,500m which will pose a significant challenge given her relative inexperience in the latter.

In addition, the league’s schedule demands eight races over four weekends, a workload that does not align with Hodgkinson’s 2025 goals.

Hodgkinson ended her 2024 season early due to injury following her Olympic gold medal win in Paris and has set her sights on breaking her personal best of 1:54.61 in the 800m.

Lyles, Alfred and Holloway confirmed for Indoor meeting in Boston

She also aims to earn medals at the indoor European Championships, as well as the indoor and outdoor World Championships.

“I do think the 1:53 is possible. I think we’re so close to getting down there, but obviously, it takes a special race.

You’ve got to be in perfect shape, in perfect conditions, the right race for all that to come together. I will put myself in the best position to do so,” she offered.

Hodgkinson’s absence adds to the list of prominent athletes missing from GST’s roster, including Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Noah Lyles, and Sha’Carri Richardson. So far, 43 of 48 Racers have signed with GST.