American · Dallas, Texas · Born 13 September 1967The most dominant 200m and 400m runner in history — the unprecedented 200m/400m Olympic double at Atlanta 1996 in iconic gold shoes.
Michael Duane Johnson was born in Dallas, Texas in 1967 and became the greatest 200m and 400m runner in history — the only man to win both events at the same Olympics, achieving the double at Atlanta 1996 in gold Nike spikes that became the most iconic footwear in athletics history. He competed for the USA from 1990 to 2001. His world record of 19.32 seconds for 200m — set at Atlanta, breaking Pietro Mennea's 17-year-old record by 0.34 seconds — stood until Usain Bolt's 19.19 in 2009. His world record of 43.18 seconds for 400m, set in Seville in 1999, stood for 17 years until Wayde van Niekerk's 43.03 at Rio 2016. His upright running style — torso perpendicular rather than leaning forward — contradicted sprint coaching orthodoxy but proved uniquely effective at distances requiring endurance as well as speed. He won 9 World Championship gold medals across the 200m, 400m and 4x400m relay. He won 4 Olympic gold medals. His combination of two very different sprint events — requiring different energy systems — is unlikely to be achieved again at world record level.
Sprinting dominance in 200m and 400m, unique upright running style
His 200m/400m Olympic double was considered impossible before he achieved it — no other man has done it since.
Did You Know?How They Played
Upright running posture, powerful stride, exceptional speed endurance
Lasting Impact
Considered greatest 400m runner ever, held world records in both events
Career Honours
- Olympic Gold 200m, 400m Atlanta 1996 (double unique)
- Olympic Gold 400m Sydney 2000
- Olympic Gold 4x400m 1992, 1996
- World Champion 200m 1991, 1995
- World Champion 400m 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001
- World Record 200m (19.32s, 1996), 400m (43.18s, 1999)
American Athletes