Legendary Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson announces plans for breakaway athletics league to 'revolutionise' the sport... with the big-money competition expected to rival World Athletics' Diamond League

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 which could come to rival World Athletics’ existing Diamond League.

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

While full details are still being finalised, the USA legend and BBC pundit 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.

Athletics legend Michael Johnson has announced plans for a breakaway league

‘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 sport business publication, Sportico. ‘It’s been a shame for me to watch it over the last couple decades since I retired 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.’

Johnson's developing project could be a rival to World Athletics’ existing Diamond League

The four-time Olympic champion and BBC pundit wants to better promote star, like Noah Lyles

Johnson has in the past suggested holding 10 big meetings a year, with limited races in each one, featuring only the best athletes.

‘I don’t think anyone has tried to show the essence of the sport and really put the athletes front and centre,’ added Winners Alliance president Eric Winston.

‘The NBA has made a push to put their athletes front and centre and even the NFL, which was always a team-driven league, has done so as well.

‘We just felt like it’s the right time, right person and right place. And with our engine we can really give this the boost it needs to get it going.’