Michael Johnson *Bio

MICHAEL JOHNSON
Events: 200m, 400, & 4x400-meter Relay
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175
PRs: 200m 19.32 WR (1996); 400m 43.18 WR (1999) and indoor 44.63 WR (1995); also 100m 10.09 (1994).
Born: September 13, 1967, in Dallas, Texas
Current Residence: Mill Valley, California
High School: Skyline HS, Dallas, Texas '86
College: Baylor '90
Coach: Clyde Hart
Agent: Brad Hunt
Club: Nike
Career Highlights: 1996 Olympic 200, 400 champion; 2000 Olympic 400m, and 4x400m champion; 4-time World 400 champion; 1991, 1995 World 200 champion; anchor of three world champion 4x400 relays; 1992 Olympic 4x400 relay gold medalist; 9-time U.S. Outdoor champion; World record holder in 400, 200 and 4x400 outdoors and 400 indoors; 1996 AAU/Sullivan Award winner; 3-time Jesse Owens Award winner; 2000 Olympic team member.

After his stunning double-gold performance in the 1996 Olympics, Johnson became the first man ever to defend an Olympic title in the 400m at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. The greatest combination sprinter (100-200-400) in history, Johnson has worked with coach Clyde Hart since leaving high school. He wrote the autobiographical book, "Slaying the Dragon," in 1996. He says he did not envision his stunning 19.32 world record in the Olympics. Johnson pulled up injured in the much-hyped 1997 match race with Donovan Bailey over 150m. He says he plans to compete through the 2001 Goodwill Games... married October 3, 1998, to Kerry Doyen; the couple had their first child, Sebastian, in May 2000...at the close of 1998, coach Hart said, "Michael finished the year healthy. That was most encouraging for both of us."...his 1998 hamstring problems were fixed by a massage therapist who found an imbalance in his hips; a stretching and deep massage routine helped alleviate it...studied accounting and marketing at Baylor...recently moved from Waco, Tex., to Mill Valley, Calif. Confirmed on Jan. 15, 2001 that he will not compete at 2001 IAAF World Championships in Edmonton. Tentative plans call for retirement after competing in 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia. Won nine gold medals at IAAF World Championships (200m '91, 95, 400m '93, '95, '97, '99 4x400m '93, '95, '99) more than anyone in history. Ranked #1 in the world in 400m10 times by Track & Field News. Ranked #1 in the world in 200m on five occasions.

2000: Won 400m gold in Sydney (43.84), and 4x400m gold (4th leg); Opened the outdoor season with 19.71 200m, world-best 30.85 300m and 43.9 (ht) 400m...in South Africa...won Olympic Trials 400 (43.68) but injured in 200 final and did not finish...ran 19.91 on July 22 in a heat at the Olympic Trials...ranked #1 at 400m in the world and #8 in world at 200m (#3 U.S) by T&FN in 400m...bests of 19.71 and 43.68.
1999: Won gold in World Champs 400 in world record time (43.18) eclipsing the 11-year old mark (43.29) of American Butch Reynolds; anchored gold medal-winning 4x400 (2:56.47)...withdrew from USA Outdoors citing a nagging injury...accepted a bye into World Champs as defending 400m champion... bests of 19.93 and 43.18WR.
1998: Anchored world record setting 4 x 400 (43.3 for 2:54.20) at Goodwill Games, also won 400 (43.76)...3rd in 400 at Oslo (44.58), but otherwise undefeated, including 6 Grand Prix wins...troubled by a sore hamstring in the early season...ran the 200 only twice, with a best of 20.31 at the UT-Arlington Open...ranked #1 in world at 400 by T&FN; #5 U.S. at 200...bests of 20.31 and 43.68.
1997: Skipped USA Outdoors...as defending champion, got a bye into World Champs, winning 400 gold (44.12)...ranked #1 in world at 400 by T&FN; #7 in world (#3 U.S.) at 200...bests of 20.05 and 43.75.
1996: Won gold in both the 200 (19.32 WR) and 400 (43.49) at Olympic Games, the first man to ever win both... won 200 (19.66 WR) and 400 (43.44) at Olympic Trials... Won USA Indoor 400 (44.66)...won GP Final 400...ranked #1 in world at both 200 and 400 by T&FN...bests of 19.32 and 43.44.
1995: Won three golds at World Champs in 200 (19.79), 400 (43.39); anchored winning 4 x 400 (44.11 for a 2:57.32)... his winning margin in the Worlds 400 was the biggest in World/Olympic history since 1896...broke world indoor 400m record with 44.97 at Reno...won USA Indoor 400 (44.63 WR)... won 200 (19.83w) and 400 (43.66) at USA Outdoors...won GP Final 200...ranked #1 in world at both 200 and 400 by T&FN...bests of 19.79 and 43.39.
1994: Focused on trying to break 10-seconds for the 100...8th in 100 at USA Outdoors (injured)...ranked #1 in world at both 200 and 400 by T&FN...bests of 19.94 and 43.90, also 10.09 for 100.
1993: Won gold at World Champs (43.65); anchored gold medal 4 x 400 with fastest relay leg in history (42.94 for 2:54.29 WR)...won 400 at USA Outdoors (43.74)...3rd in 200 at GP Final... ranked #1 in world at 400, #4 in world (#2 U.S.) at 200 by T&FN...bests of 20.06 and 43.65, also 10.12 for 100.
1992: 6th in 200 semis at Olympic Games after suffering food poisoning but rebounded to third leg on gold medal 4 x 400 (44.0)...won 200 at Olympic Trials (19.79)...ranked #3 in world (#2 in U.S.) at 200 by T&FN; #5 in world (#4 U.S.) at 400...bests of 19.79 and 43.98.
1991: Won 200 gold at World Champs (20.01 into headwind); his winning margin of 0.33 was the largest in a World/OG 200 since Jesse Owens in 1936...won USA Indoor 400 (46.70)...won 200 at USA Outdoors (20.31)... won GP Final 200...ranked #1 in world at both 200 and 400 by T&FN...bests of 19.88 and 44.17, also 10.23 for 100.
1990: Won 400 at USA Indoors (47.43) and 200 at USA Outdoors (19.90)...won NCAA Indoor 200 (20.72); anchored winning 4 x 400 (3:06.49)...won 200 at NCAA Outdoor (20.31); third leg on 3rd-place 4 x 100, anchored winning 4 x 400 (3:01.86)...ranked #1 in world at both 200 and 400 by T&FN...bests of 19.85 and 44.21, also 10.23w for 100.
1989: 2nd in 400 at USA Indoor...won NCAA Indoor 200 (20.59 AR); led-off runner-up 4 x 400...relay leg of 43.8...pulled hamstring dashed his hopes for nationals...5th in 200 heats at NCAA Outdoor...6th in 200 heats at USA Outdoors...bests of 20.47 and 46.49, also 10.29 for 100.
1988: 7th in 400 heats at Olympic Trials...disqualified from 200 heat at NCAA Indoor; led-off 3rd-place 4 x 400...clocked a relay leg of 43.5...did not finish 200 at NCAA Outdoor, breaking his fibula in the race; ran third leg for 4 x 100 that finished 3rd in heats...ranked #7 in U.S. at 200 by T&FN...bests of 20.07 and 45.23, also 10.19w for 100.
1987: Surprised coach Hart by breaking Baylor school record with 20.41 in his first collegiate 200...a pulled hamstring cost him most of the season...ran third leg on 4th place 4 x 400 at NCAA Indoor...led-off 4 x 100 team that placed 5th in heats at NCAA Outdoor; third leg on the 3rd-place 4 x 400...bests of 20.41 and 46.29.
1986: Placed 2nd in Texas state HS meet to Derrick Florence...best of 21.30.