Josh Kerr is ready to feel uncomfortable this year, both on the track and in front of the camera, with the 1,500m world champion embracing a year of change.
Just seven weeks ago, the Briton was violently sick and could be heard hunched over in a Boston bathroom. That revealing footage, on Kerr’s newly launched YouTube channel, demonstrated a commitment to lifting the curtain behind the pursuit of greatness.
Kerr and his Brooks Beasts team could be seen agonising over the decision to withdraw from the Wanamaker Mile and a rare world record attempt.
Now recovered, after skipping the indoor season, including the defence of his world indoor title over 3,000m, Kerr is embarking on what he describes as “a new era” for the sport.
The legendary Olympic champion Michael Johnson launches Grand Slam Track on Friday over three days in Kingston, Jamaica, with Kerr ready to not only duke it out over 1,500m but also come out of his comfort zone to battle over 800m, too, thanks to the league’s innovative new format.
A silver medallist at last year’s Olympics, Kerr conceivably won the battle in his notorious rivalry with Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who will not be competing at Grand Slam Track, but ultimately lost the war after Cole Hocker claimed a surprise gold. The road to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo is in the distance, pushed back to September, which should allow space for a more intense period of racing at Grand Slam Track, not to mention opportunities for self-promotion. With some British athletes asked to self-fund international appearances, Kerr recognises more than ever the value of building his brand.
“You have to push the line for it to be interesting to watch,” Kerr tells The Independent. “So I want to give fresh insight to my ideas and provide a bit more of a raw approach for younger athletes coming through, or people interested in the sport that want more content to watch or to have more context about what it takes to get on ...
