Michael Johnson American sprinter Date of Birth: 13.09.1967 Country: USA

Biography of Michael Johnson

Michael Duane Johnson, a former American sprinter, is considered one of the fastest men in the world. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Johnson started his career in athletics at the age of 10. He continued to develop his sporting talents while studying at Baylor University, where he won several championships at the NCAA level.

By the time Johnson graduated in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in business, he had already become the first athlete to be a world champion in both the 200-meter and 400-meter distances. He further solidified his position in the athletic world when he became the world champion in the 200-meter race in Tokyo in 1991, defeating the silver medalist by a record-breaking 0.33 seconds.

In 1992, just two weeks before the Olympics, Johnson and his agent fell seriously ill after dining at a Spanish restaurant. As a result, Johnson's performance was affected, and he was unable to achieve the expected results. Despite this setback, he still managed to win gold and set a new world record in the 4x100-meter relay.

Johnson's prowess on the track reached new heights when he broke Pietro Mennea's 17-year-old record in the 200-meter race with a time of 19.66 seconds during the Olympic trials in Atlanta. At the Olympics, Johnson aimed to achieve something extraordinary - winning both the 200-meter and 400-meter races. He succeeded in winning the 400-meter race on July 29th, setting an Olympic record. On August 1st, he surpassed his own qualifying game record in the 200-meter race, becoming the first man to achieve this feat. This accomplishment drew comparisons between Johnson and Bob Beamon.

By the end of the Olympics, Johnson earned the nickname "The Fastest Man in the World," a title that was subject to debate but held some significance. In the 2000 Olympics, Johnson planned to compete in both the 200-meter and 400-meter races. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury during the final of the 200-meter race, costing him the championship title. However, he did win gold in the 400-meter race, making him the oldest track and field athlete to win gold in a distance less than 5000 meters in Olympic history.

After retiring from athletics, Johnson became a sports commentator, primarily working with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). He also had his own column in the Daily Telegraph. In 2007, Johnson founded his own company, specializing in the training of young and professional athletes, which continues to be successful to this day.