Olympic champion Michael Johnson launches his own track and field league.
The legendary American runner has secured more than $30 million from investors and strategic partners for a track and field league scheduled to begin next year, according to Sports Business Journal. Winners Alliance will reportedly be the lead investor and operating partner of the league.
The new athletics league has reportedly added three agencies to promote the sport's stars through fan-focused storytelling. The purpose is to contribute to the development of track and field athletes and increase the popularity of the sport. Track and field is one of the most popular sports at the quadrennial Olympics and will feature heavily at the 2024 Paris Games.
“We're working to change the game for athletes and fans! League details will be announced in June of this year,” Johnson said. Posted on social media on Tuesday Also includes a link to the Sports Business Journal article.
Johnson is one of the most decorated track and field athletes of all time. He is a four-time Olympic gold medalist, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics he won gold in the 200m and he won the 400m, and at the 2000 Sydney Olympics he defended his 400m gold medal. . Johnson also won a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games as a member of the 4×400 relay team.
An eight-time world champion, Johnson's personal best 400-meter time of 43.18 seconds, which he ran in 1999, remains an American record.
Johnson's new track and field league comes in the midst of another huge investment in the sport.
Alexis Ohanian presents 776 Invitational
Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and husband of Serena Williams, announced Tuesday that he is investing in a new women's track and field invitational called the 776 Invitational to be held in September 2024.
“At 776, we believe in the power of sport to create positive change and inspire future generations,” Ohanian said in a statement on the 776 Invitational's official website. “By investing in women's track and field, we aim to raise the profile of female athletes and create a more inclusive and fair sporting environment.”
American sprinter Gabby Thomas, the defending Olympic bronze medalist in the women's 200 meters, is partnering with Ohanian to revitalize the 776 Invitational.
“We are excited to partner with a forward-thinking organization like 776 that shares our vision of advancing women's athletics,” Thomas said in a statement. “Through this investment, we will not only provide our athletes with the resources and visibility they need to build lasting careers, but also inspire fans around the world with a reinvented format and support our We want them to experience the best of the sport.”
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