The Sports Agents27 Mai 2025

Michael Johnson Exclusive: Can athletics thrive beyond the Olympic Games?

Four-time Olympic champion sprinter Michael Johnson joins Gabby and Mark for an exclusive interview ahead of the third 'Grand Slam Track' event of the year.

Everyone wants to see the 100m final at the Olympics, but how many people tune into athletics outside the main meets? Johnson wants to change that with 'Grand Slam Track' - a series of four events per year, where Racers each compete in two track events against a rotating cast of Challengers for a $100,000 winners cheque.

So how do you judge success when you're a sports start up? Are the biggest names like Noah Lyles going to sign up soon? And, as a (self-admitted) impatient person, how is Michael handling this project? (11:00)

Plus, Gabby and Mark react to a final-filled weekend from Arsenal lifting the Women's Champions League trophy, to Gary Lineker's goodbye on Match of the Day, and the noise around the refereeing as Northampton Saints lost the Champions Cup final. (01:30)

And we look forward to a special bonus episode coming your way on Wednesday: an exclusive behind the scenes look at Sale Sharks rugby club, the Northern powerhouse who have one game left to make the play-offs. That includes access to the team meeting and interviews with Lions and England stars, George Ford and Tom Curry. (36:30)

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producers: Bogdan Briceag

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Guest Booker: Kirsty Giddings

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".

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