Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper says the Grand Slam Track series is giving athletes like her a fighting chance in a sport where financial rewards are often limited—especially for those without major shoe sponsorships.

Tapper, who is currently sponsored by Sandals Hotels, previously had a deal with global apparel giant Puma but now competes without the kind of high-profile shoe contract many of her peers enjoy. That makes her US$30,000 prize for finishing second in the 100m dash on Saturday all the more meaningful.

“Track and field is an incredibly tough sport, and the truth is, it’s not always fair—especially when it comes to compensation for the time, effort, and money we pour into it,” Tapper told Sportsmax.TV. “That can be really disheartening.”

The Jamaican hurdler, who won Olympic bronze in the 100m hurdles at the Tokyo 2020 Games, was brought in as a late replacement for Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn at the Florida leg of Grand Slam Track. After finishing fifth in the 100m hurdles on Friday in a season-best 12.50 seconds, she returned the following day to clock a massive lifetime best of 11.33 seconds in the 100m dash—second only to Ackera Nugent, who won in 11.09 and pocketed the US$100,000 top prize.

Tapper’s payout, one of the biggest of her career, came at a time when many athletes outside the sport’s top tier struggle to stay afloat. She sees Grand Slam Track—created by four-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson—as a beacon of hope.

“But something like Grand Slam changes that. It gives you something to look forward to—something that makes you feel seen and valued for all the hard work you put in. It’s exciting to know there’s an event like this that truly recognizes and celebrates athletes, and I’m proud to be a part of it,” said the Olympian, who celebrated wildly with Nugent after they finished 1-2 in the 100m and their prize money secured.

Tapper praised Johnson’s motives for creating the series, noting how rare it is for a retired athlete to build something that doesn’t directly benefit their own legacy or career.

“I’m incredibly impressed by the vision Michael Johnson had—and even more impressed that he was able to turn that dream into reality,” she said. “The fact that he isn’t directly benefiting from it, that his career doesn’t hinge on it, makes it all the more remarkable. He’s retired from the sport, yet chose to come back and give back in such a powerful way. That kind of visionary mindset is rare, it truly moved me and will do wonders for the sport.”

Tapper said she had been captivated by the opening leg of the Grand Slam Track series in Kingston last month and immediately set her sights on being a part of it.

“As a Jamaican athlete, I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to participate. It was an honour to run in the second staging of the event. I remember watching the first one in Jamaica with wide eyes—I’d never seen anything like it in track and field before. It was spectacular, and I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of it,” she reflected.

Now armed with a personal best and a significant financial boost, Tapper is more motivated than ever to chase success in 2025—on and off the track.