Johnson, Michael (1967-…), an American track star, ranks among the greatest runners in the history of the sport. At the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, Johnson became the first man in Olympic history to win gold medals in both the 200-meter and 400-meter events. Johnson set a world record of 19.32 seconds in the 200-meter sprint.
Johnson became the only runner ever ranked first in the world in both the 200-meter and 400-meter events, a feat he accomplished four different years. He won 51 consecutive 400-meter races between 1988 and 1996. At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, he ran a leg on the United States 1,600-meter relay team that won the gold medal and set a world record in the event of 2 minutes 55.74 seconds. He also ran the anchor leg on the United States national team in 1998 that set a new world record in the event of 2 minutes 54.20 seconds. In 1999, Johnson set a new world record in the 400-meter sprint with a time of 43.18 seconds. At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, he won a gold medal in both the 400-meter race and the 1,600-meter relay race, running the anchor leg for the U.S. team. However, in 2008, the U.S. relay team was disqualified because one of its members admitted to using illegal drugs. Johnson returned his gold medal in the event.
Johnson was born on Sept. 13, 1967, in Dallas. He graduated from Baylor University in 1990. In 2001, he announced his retirement from track and field competition.
