Michael Johnson announces he is working on a parallel Diamond League

Olympics legend Michael Johnson has announced plans to launch a breakaway athletics league in a bid to ‘revolutionise’ the sport.

The four-time Olympic gold medallist has teamed up with global sports marketing firm, Winners Alliance, to develop a concept that could come to rival World Athletics’ existing Diamond League.

Johnson is already in talks with further investors, sponsors, and media partners to launch the new big-money competition next year.

While full details are still being finalised, the legend wants to create a TV-friendly product to better promote the sport and its stars.

‘Big things coming to professional track and field,’ said Johnson on Instagram. ‘I’ve partnered with Winners Alliance to revolutionise pro track for fans and athletes.

 ‘I have teamed up with some great partners and together we are making the biggest investment ever into professional track and field to build a professional, truly fan-focused league that will unlock commercial value for the best track and field athletes in the world.’

Johnson has long been a critic of the way athletics is run and said last year it would benefit from a private commercial company being in control rather than World Athletics, like Liberty Media are in Formula One.

He has also previously derided the Diamond League, World Athletics’ flagship annual series, which sees 15 meetings held around the world between April and September.

‘I love this sport and owe everything I have to this sport,’ Johnson told US sports business publication, Sportico. ‘It’s been a shame for me to watch it over the last couple of decades since I retired and not be able to continue to provide the same amazing moments to people, outside of just the Olympics.

‘Over three billion people are watching the sport once a year during major championships and have an expressed interest to continue watching the sport if there was a place to do so. So I see it as a real opportunity from that perspective.

‘The track has been such a big part of my life and I’m in a position to help this sport get back to where it should be.