EXCLUSIVE: Jessica Hull Ready to Compete in $20 Million League, Hailing It as a Game-Changer for Australian Youth

Jessica Hull’s remarkable performance at the Paris Olympics, where she clinched a silver medal, has ignited a passion in countless Australian youngsters to consider a career in athletics, carving out a path distinct from the more dominant codes like NRLW, AFLW, football, and cricket in the quest for emerging talent.

Eight months later, the 1500m silver medallist aspires to replicate this inspiration as she prepares to compete in the inaugural season of a groundbreaking professional track league.

Hull stands out as the lone Australian amongst a field of 96 athletes poised to participate in Grand Slam Track, a league envisioned by legendary American sprinter Michael Johnson, boasting an impressive funding pool of US$12.6 million (roughly A$20 million).

In addition to pursuing prize money, Hull is one of 48 athletes in the competition earning a guaranteed salary.

The series will feature four three-day Grand Slam events, with the opening contest slated to commence in Kingston, Jamaica this Saturday (AEST).

Competing in the “short distance” category, the Albion Park native will participate in both the 800m and 1500m races throughout the Grand Slam events, which will take place in Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.

Recently, Australian athletics enthusiasts were disappointed to learn that Grand Slam Track will be broadcast in 189 countries, excluding Australia.

Hull expressed her “surprise” at this revelation but remains optimistic that her involvement in this well-funded league will enhance athletics’ allure as it competes for young talent ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Games.

“Having a professional league with funding means I can focus solely on my performance, without the worry of making ends meet, which is immensely significant,” Hull shared with Wide World of Sports.

“Athletics is a sport that continues to grow and innovate. This sustainable pathway opens numerous opportunities if we let our performance speak for itself.”

“I’m always available for kids to reach out to, especially regarding questions about the NCAA [where I studied and raced with the University of Oregon] or their future career paths. I’m approachable and happy to lend a hand.”

All athletes signed with Grand Slam Track, including Hull, four-time Olympic gold medallist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and former world champion Fred Kerley, can still compete in other professional leagues, such as the Diamond League, which hosts 15 annual events with a prize pool of US$9.24 million (A$14 million) in 2025.

One of Johnson’s primary motivations for launching Grand Slam Track was the limited competition faced by athletes like McLaughlin-Levrone outside of the Olympics, though he emphasises that the issue stems from a lack of incentives rather than pointing fingers at the athletes.

Winners across six race categories at each Grand Slam Track event will earn US$100,000 (A$158,000), leading to a maximum potential earning of US$400,000 (A$634,000) in prize money for the season.

No matter their ranking in each race—where each category features eight competitors—athletes will receive a guaranteed prize ranging from US$100,000 (A$158,000) to US$10,000 (about A$16 million).

This substantial investment is undoubtedly a positive development for young athletes aspiring to emulate Hull’s success as a top-tier runner instead of aiming to be like AFLW star Tayla Harris or Matildas ace Mary Fowler.

Mark Arbib, the new chief executive of the Australian Olympic Committee and former president of Athletics Australia, was recently asked about the foremost challenge in his new role.

“We’re competing for talent, and we must make sure that kids want to wake up and that parents are keen to register their children for Olympic sports,” Arbib remarked.

Reflecting on her future aspirations, Hull shared, “I was speaking with a physio in the US recently who said, ‘We need to keep you healthy until 2032’. I responded that I’d love to be on that start line in 2032. The excitement is palpable.”

Having made history as the first Australian distance runner to gain an Olympic medal since Ralph Doubell in 1968, Hull hopes the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Australia offer the next generation an incredible opportunity to appreciate its significance.

“Feeling the support during my time in Paris, despite being so far away, makes me realise how extraordinary it will be to have that kind of energy right in Australia in 2032. It’s thrilling to imagine,” Hull expressed.

“There are athletes in Australia who could be in contention for gold medals in Brisbane, and that surely serves as a daily reminder to them that something very special is just around the corner.”