"I’m looking to race the best people in the world as often as I can" - Josh Kerr opens up on signing with Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track League

Josh Kerr has joined the athletic squad of the Grand Slam Track League and is ready to lead the 800m/1500m category and race with the best. He has already earned his Paris qualification in the 1500m after securing the coveted gold podium at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

Kerr, the 1500m bronze medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, rose to fame after defeating world record holder Jakob Ingebrigtsen at the 2023 World Championships. In 2024, Kerr set the indoor two-mile world record (8:00.67) at the Millrose Games, eclipsing Mo Farah's record of 8:03.40.

Soon after, in the most anticipated rematch between Ingebrigtsen and him at the Prefontaine Classic, Josh Kerr defeated the former, as well as broke Steve Cram's British record.

His fall in the 800m at the 2024 British Athletics Championships limited him to the 1500m in Paris. After that, he will compete at the retired track legend Michael Johnson-introduced Grand Slam Track League, as the 800m/1500m leader.

Kerr recently accepted the offer with a welcoming heart as he always wanted athletics to reach great heights. He also expressed gratitude to the decision makers for choosing him as a worthy 800m/1500m athlete.

In an interview with Athletics Weekly, when Kerr was asked the reason behind his Grand Slam Track League signing, he said:

"I’ve always been very open to progression in our sport and I think there is another way that the running world is moving towards. They approached me to lead their 800m/1500m category and I saw their vision and they understand who I am as an athlete."

By the end of 2023, the 26-year-old had etched his name as the third-fastest 1500m athlete in the World Athletics Rankings.

The Grand Slam Track League will open its gates in April 2025. The prize pool of the first season has been set at $12.6m and the first stop will be in Los Angeles.

Josh Kerr: "I don’t love the racing scenarios where there is nothing on the line"

Josh Kerr likes pressure and good competition, especially when Jakob Ingebrigtsen shares the track with him. According to him, facing pressure on the global stage would be a 'privilege.' He added that racing scenarios without any competition don't excite him much.

"Experiencing pressure in these situations is a privilege. I have earned that pressure because of the performances I’ve put together. I had a home World Indoor Championships this year and I had a lot of races that had a lot of pressure with it. I don’t love the racing scenarios where there is nothing on the line, it doesn’t let me do what I want to do properly," said Josh Kerr (via Athletics Weekly).

The men's 1500m preliminary round will be held on August 2, at the Paris Olympics. Formidable contenders Kerr and Ingebrigtsen will face off in the second consecutive Games.