Britain’s Olympic Medallist Triumphs in 200m at Inaugural Event

Kingston, Jamaica (April 6, 2025) – British sprinter Matthew Hudson-Smith secured an impressive $100,000 (£77,500) prize after winning the 200m race at the inaugural Grand Slam Track event in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday. The victory, combined with his second-place finish in the 400m the previous day, earned him the top prize in the event’s overall standings.

Hudson-Smith, 30, crossed the finish line in 20.77 seconds, with Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards finishing in second place and Jamaican athlete Deandre Watkin claiming third. The Grand Slam Track event, which features four weekend meetings, was created by four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson.

The event’s format requires athletes to compete in two disciplines, with Hudson-Smith’s victory in the 200m alongside his 400m performance securing his place as the first athlete to claim a share of the event’s $100,000 prize pool. Hudson-Smith, who earned a silver medal in the 400m at the Paris 2024 Olympics, expressed his excitement about the win.

“It’s great to win the first Grand Slam championship, and I’m really excited and grateful,” Hudson-Smith shared. “I’m approaching the end of my career, so it’s time to start saving.”

The Grand Slam Track concept will continue with three more meetings in the United States, featuring top-tier athletes from around the world.

Other notable performances at the event included Olympic champion Gabby Thomas, who clinched the top spot after finishing second in the 400m, following her 200m victory earlier in the event. Thomas, motivated by the high stakes, remarked, “I’ve never been more tired in my life, but hearing ‘$100K on the line’ really pushed me to give my all.”

In the men’s races, Kenny Bednarek of the United States followed up his 100m win with a victory in the 200m, while Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji topped the field in the short-distance competition. Welteji also won the 1500m, having finished second in the 800m on Friday.

The men’s 1500m race produced a surprise result as Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi triumphed over a strong field, with US runner Yared Nuguse taking second and Cole Hocker, the Olympic gold medallist, finishing third. Britain’s Josh Kerr, the reigning 1500m world champion, finished in fifth place.

The Grand Slam Track event has proven to be a thrilling competition, and with additional meetings scheduled across the United States, the excitement continues to build for the world’s top track and field athletes.