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3 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Prasun Chakrabarty |Anushka Solanki
“I’m trying to evolve. I’m trying to be the next version of me,” the four-time Olympic champion, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, remained optimistic after her loss in her 100m hurdles at the Grand Slam Track’s Philadelphia leg. Despite the loss, her performance was an uncharacteristic fifth-place finish in 12.70 seconds. The very next day, she showed for her debut 100m flat. The result? An impressive 11.21s. But as this momentum grows for Sydney, her optimism faced another test this week. How?
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3 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Prasun Chakrabarty |Anushka Solanki
“The Meeting of GOATs” — that’s what social media called it when the Indiana Fever locker room was graced by some of the biggest names in women’s sports. Just after Caitlin Clark broke the WNBA rookie three-point record in a game against the Connecticut Sun, she was greeted by none other than Simone Biles. The two shared a celebratory photo that quickly went viral. But nearly a year later, as Clark and Biles once again appear in pictures side by side, fans aren’t so quick to celebrate. Why?
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3 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Prasun Chakrabarty |Anushka Solanki
Last weekend, while Olivia Dunne dazzled crowds with her radiant smile during her segment at the 2025 Miami Swim Week for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, Gabby Thomas was a thousand miles north in Philadelphia, laser-focused on her appearance in the Grand Slam Track. Two athletes in different worlds—one on a fashion runway, the other on a track lane—yet they found themselves drawn into the same unsettling conversation that no woman in the public eye wants to have.
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3 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Prasun Chakrabarty |Anushka Solanki
“I’ve been saying it all along, I want to always be remembered as one of the best in this sport.” Those were Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s words, glowing with defiance and destiny, moments after she lit up the track in Philadelphia at Grand Slam Track. Words like those aren’t rare before a World Championships season—track and field is full of bold dreams and bold tongues. But Melissa’s were different. Not because they were louder, but because they came with receipts. For whom?
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4 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Prasun Chakrabarty |Anushka Solanki
No one may have expected such a turn of events. On April 6, Olivia Dunne posted what seemed like another golden thread in the tapestry of her dream life—a “quick lil life update🔮” on TikTok. The sun dipped low behind her as she strolled a breezy beach, radiating warmth, peace, and a glow that felt almost too good to be real.
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4 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Prasun Chakrabarty |Anushka Solanki
“Legend meets the future.” Those four words said it all. On the historic strands of Franklin Field, teenage sensation Quincy Wilson came face-to-face with track and field royalty—Michael Johnson. The occasion? Day 1 of the Philadelphia edition of Grand Slam Track. Quincy wasn’t there to compete. He came simply as a fan. But in true Wilson fashion, he couldn’t blend into the background.
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4 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Prasun Chakrabarty |Anushka Solanki
In just the last 60 days, Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles has been on an unstoppable roll — and she’s not slowing down anytime soon. Whether it’s clinching an NCAA medal for her powerhouse floor routine or gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit alongside icons like Salma Hayek, Lauren Chan, and fellow athlete Olivia Dunne, Jordan is proving she can dominate both the mat and the mainstream spotlight.
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4 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Prasun Chakrabarty |Anushka Solanki
Just 24 hours before lining up for her first professional 100m race, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had already felt the heat from Ackera Nugent. The Jamaican sprint hurdler blazed to a phenomenal 12.44s in the 100m hurdles on Day 1 of Grand Slam Track, outpacing Sydney and then confidently declaring: “I feel like knowing that she’s [Sydney] going to come back with that competition mindset, I feel like it will push me a lot more.” Did it rattle Sydney? Not even close.
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4 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Prasun Chakrabarty |Anushka Solanki
“Nothing better than a packed grandstand of fans, iconic backdrop, and thrilling races!” That’s how Grand Slam Track CEO Michael Johnson summed up the electric atmosphere at Philadelphia’s Franklin Field on May 31. His words, posted on X alongside a snapshot of the vibrant scene, perfectly captured the moment — the scarlet track, the roaring crowd, and the crisp, early-summer air setting the stage for a powerful start to GST’s third edition. And it wasn’t just hype — the numbers spoke, too.
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5 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Prasun Chakrabarty |Sowmya Anantharaman
“Documentaries like Simone Biles Rising form a crucial part of our strategy to deepen the connection between fans and the Olympic Movement,” said Jérôme Parmentier, Vice-President of Media Rights and Content Partnerships at the IOC. His words, spoken last year, echoed with purpose as the four-part series garnered critical acclaim—winning Best Sports Documentary and Best Limited Documentary Series at the 9th Annual Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards.
