"Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone vs Femke Bol, Noah Lyles and Sha'Carri Richardson": Michael Johnson on why 2024 was one of the best years in track & field

The 2024 track and field season saw some incredible performances, and Michael Johnson is of the opinion that this is one of the best years the sport has experienced in its lifetime. The legendary sprinter pointed out the dominant athletes of the season, and promised to capitalize on this momentum with his ‘Grand Slam Track’ league.

As a whole, this Olympic year has seen track and field thrive, as a combination of cutthroat rivalries, bold claims, and thrilling performances have brought in troves of viewers. Johnson, the former world record holder in the 200 and 400m distances, thinks that this elevated competitive spirit has transformed the sport.

Taking to X, Michael Johnson called 2024 ‘one of the best-ever’ years for the sport, writing,

“2024 Track & Field season was one of the best ever for the sport. Due to combination of: ✅Olympics put major focus on the sport. ✅Dynamic personalities brought new fans and mainstream attention. ✅SPRINT on Netflix helped casual fans discover and engage with the sport. ✅Thrilling races.”

The four-time Olympic champion went on to list the rivalries and athletes that had captured fans attention this year, and promised to make the most of this interest with his Grand Slam Track league next year.

“💥1500m Josh (Kerr) vs Jakob (Ingebrigtsen) = Cole Hocker! 💥400m hurdles. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone vs Femke Bol =another Sydney WR & Anna Cockrell! 💥400 Quincy’s (both of them!) 💥Faith (Kipyegon) & Mondo (Duplantis) - record machines! 💥100m Noah (Lyles) & Sha’Carri (Richardson) - love or hate, win or loss, people watched! 💥Sprints - Letsile (Tebogo) & Julien (Alfred)- new, young stars! And we ARE prepared to capitalize on that interest. Grand Slam Track coming Spring 2025.”

Michael Johnson thinks the men's 200m sprint is about to get more competitive

Michael Johnson during the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona (Image source: Getty)

The 2024 season saw multiple upsets on track as fan favorites for the win were denied the gold at the Paris Olympics. One of the most surprising races was the men's 200m final, where Botswana's Letsile Tebogo outdid reigning World Champion and freshly crowned 100m Olympic champion Noah Lyles for the gold.

While Lyles's ability to clinch gold in the 100m had been under doubt, he was the unanimous favorite to walk away with the 200m crown. He went into the race a three-time World Champion in the distance, only to be stunned at the finish line by both Tebogo and Kenny Bednarek.

Recently, a track and field fan account on X shared the toplist for the men's 200m this year, and Michael Johnson reacted by replying,

“Men’s 200m has typically always had one dominant leader. Next few years it could be more competitive than it’s ever been.”

Michael Johnson himself excelled in the 200m. He was the 1996 Olympic champion in the distance, and the 1991 as well as 1995 World Champion.