List of career achievements by Michael Johnson explained

This page details the career achievements of American track & field athlete Michael Johnson. Over the course of his career, Johnson consistently dominated his events, winning almost every time he took to the track. He set numerous world and Olympic records in short distance track, both as an individual and as a member of relay teams. His domination of the 400 meter race is unprecedented in the history of track and field, making him arguably the greatest 400 m runner of all time. For approximately one decade, Michael Johnson held the world records in the 200 meters, 400 meters and indoor 400 meters, as well as the world's best time in the 300 meters and the world record for the 4 by 400 meter relay. He is still a world record holder for the 4 x 400 meter relay. In 2004, Johnson was voted into the United States Track & Field Hall of Fame. At the ceremony, his record-setting 200-meter performance at the 1996 Summer Olympics was deemed the greatest track and field moment in the past 25 years. Johnson is generally considered one of the greatest and most consistent sprinters in the history of track and field.[1] [2]

Medal record

Olympics

GamesEventTimesResult
1992 Barcelona4 x 400 m relay2:55.74 (44.73) bgcolor=goldGold
1996 Atlanta200 m19.32 bgcolor=goldGold
1996 Atlanta400 m43.49 bgcolor=goldGold
2000 Sydney400 m43.84bgcolor=goldGold
2000 Sydney4 x 400 m relay2:56.35 (44.29)Disqualified*
  • Teammates Antonio Pettigrew and Jerome Young later admitted to use of performance-enhancing drugs, invalidating this performance and vacating the team of their gold medals.

World Championships

GamesEventTimeResult
1991 Tokyo200 m20.01 bgcolor=goldGold
1993 Stuttgart400 m43.65 bgcolor=goldGold
1993 Stuttgart4 x 400 m relay2:54.29 (42.91) bgcolor=goldGold
1995 Gothenburg200 m19.79 bgcolor=goldGold
1995 Gothenburg400 m43.39 bgcolor=goldGold
1995 Gothenburg4 x 400 m relay2:57.32 (44.11)bgcolor=goldGold
1997 Athens400 m44.12bgcolor=goldGold
1999 Seville400 m43.18 bgcolor=goldGold

Awards

World Athlete of the Year (Men)：1996, 1999[3]

1994, 1995, 1996

1996

1994, 1996, 1997, 2000

1996

1996, 1997

Track & Field News World Rankings

Event19901991199219931994199519961997199819992000
200 meters11341117NR28
400 meters11511111111

Personal bests

200 meters

Track records (11) are highlighted.

Time (sec)WindResultDateVenueAgeNotes
bgcolor=gold19.32 0.41Atlanta, GA, United States
19.66 1.71Atlanta, GA, United States
bgcolor=gold19.71A1.81 r1Pietersburg, South Africa
bgcolor=gold19.770.61Stockholm, Sweden
bgcolor=gold19.791.01New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
bgcolor=gold19.79 0.51Gothenburg, Sweden
19.831.71Atlanta, GA, United States
bgcolor=gold19.850.41Edinburgh, Scotland
19.851.12Oslo, Norway
19.88A1.51Sestriere, Italy
19.88–0.91Barcelona, Spain
19.891.01Bruxelles, Belgium
19.890.31 h4Sacramento, CA, United States
bgcolor=gold19.900.31Norwalk, CA, United States1990 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
bgcolor=gold19.911.91Salamanca, Spain
19.910.01 r1Sevilla, Spain
19.93–0.31Monaco, Monaco
19.930.81Roma, Italy
19.930.41Bruxelles, Belgium
bgcolor=gold19.941.41Sheffield, EnglandThis time equalled James Sanford's (USA) track record from June 1980 which was set with wind assistance of 4 m/s.
19.940.01Monaco, Monaco
19.98–0.41Rieti, Italy
bgcolor=gold19.980.31Houston, TX, United States
bgcolor=gold20.011.01Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France
20.01 –3.41Tokyo, Japan
20.010.31 sf1Göteborg, Sweden

Johnson also holds the track record for Gateshead, United Kingdom where in August 1990 he ran 20.21 seconds with a wind assistance of 2.2 m/s.

400 meters

In the history of track, 102 times has a runner run the 400 meters in less than 44 seconds. Johnson alone accounts for 22 of these 102 sub-44 performances (correct).

Track records (11) are highlighted.

Time (sec)ResultDateVenueAgeNotes
bgcolor=gold43.18 1Seville, Spain
bgcolor=gold43.39 1Gothenburg, Sweden
bgcolor=gold43.441Atlanta, GA, United States
43.49 1Atlanta, GA, United States
bgcolor=gold43.65 1Stuttgart, Germany
bgcolor=gold43.661Sacramento, CA, United States
43.661 r1Lausanne, Switzerland
43.681Zürich, Switzerland
43.681Sacramento, CA, United States
43.741Eugene, OR, United States
bgcolor=gold43.751Waco, TX, United States
bgcolor=gold43.761Uniondale, NY, United States
bgcolor=gold43.841Sydney, Australia
bgcolor=gold43.861Oslo, Norway
43.881Zürich, Switzerland
bgcolor=gold43.901Madrid, Spain
43.921 r2Lausanne, Switzerland
43.921Eugene, OR, United States
bgcolor=gold43.941Berlin, Germany
43.951 sf1Seville, Spain
43.961Monaco, Monaco
43.981 r1London, England
44.041Berlin, Germany
44.061Brussels, Belgium
44.071Brussels, Belgium
44.121Athens, Greece
44.171 r1Lausanne, Switzerland

Indoor 400 meters

Time (sec)ResultDateVenueAgeNotes
44.63 [4] 1Atlanta, GA, United States1995 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
44.661Atlanta, GA, United States
44.97A 1Reno, NV, United StatesFirst athlete to break 45 seconds
45.141Birmingham, England
45.171Birmingham, England
45.321Fairfax, VA, United States
45.461 r1Sevilla, Spain
45.551Fairfax, VA, United States

300 meters

Both of these times are track records.

Time (sec)ResultDateVenueAge
30.851Pretoria, South Africa
31.561Salamanca, Spain

4 by 400 meters relay

Track records are highlighted.

Time (sec)ResultDateVenueAgeTeamLegsNotes
bgcolor=gold2:54.29 (42.91) 1Stuttgart, GermanyUnited StatesAndrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Butch Reynolds, Michael Johnson1993 World Championships Final. Fastest relay leg in history.
bgcolor=gold2:55.74 (44.73) 1Barcelona, SpainUnited StatesAndrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Michael Johnson, Steve Lewis1992 Summer Olympics Final
bgcolor=gold2:57.32 (44.11)1Göteborg, SwedenUnited StatesMarlon Ramsey, Derek Mills, Butch Reynolds, Michael Johnson1995 World Championships Final
2:58.721 sf2Stuttgart, GermanyUnited StatesAndrew Valmon, Antonio Pettigrew, Derek Mills, Michael Johnson1993 World Championships Qualifying Heat 2

Records

World records

EventTimeDateVenueSurpassed by
200 meters19.32Atlanta, GA, USAUsain Bolt (19.19, Berlin, Germany,)
300 meters30.85Pretoria, South AfricaWayde van Niekerk (30.81, Ostrava, Czech Republic,)
400 meters43.18Sevilla, SpainWayde van Niekerk (43.03, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,)
400 meters (indoor)44.63Atlanta, GA, United StatesKerron Clement (44.57, Fayetteville, AR, United States,)
4 x 400 meter relay2:54.29 (42.91)Stuttgart, GermanyUNBROKEN
4 by 400 meter U.S. relay team consisted of Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Butch Reynolds and Michael Johnson.
Johnson ran the anchor leg in 42.91 seconds, which is the fastest 400 meters ever run by a human.

Fastest 4 x 400 meter relay leg in history: 42.91, fourth leg, United States relay team,, Stuttgart, Germany

Consecutive 400 meter finals won: 58[6]

Largest margin of victory in the 200 meters in 55 years (1991 World Championships)

Largest margin of victory in the 200 meters in history (1996 Olympics)

Largest improvement ever on a 200 m world record

.34 seconds

Largest margin of victory in the 400 meters in history (1999 World Championships)

Only athlete to be ranked #1 in the world in both 200 meters and 400 meters in the same year

First athlete to break 20 seconds in 200 meters and 44 seconds in 400 meters in a career

Only athlete to break 20 seconds in 200 meters and 44 seconds in 400 meters at the same meet

First athlete to break 45 seconds in indoor 400 meters: 44.97,, Reno, NV, United States

Most gold medals won on the track: Twelve (4 Olympics, 8 World Championships)

First athlete to win both 200 meters and 400 meters at U.S. National Championships (1995)

Olympic records

EventTimeDateVenueSurpassed by
200 meters19.32Atlanta, GA, United StatesUsain Bolt (19.30, Beijing, China,)
400 meters43.49Atlanta, GA, United StatesWayde van Niekerk (43.03, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,)
4 x 400 meter relay2:55.74 (44.73)Barcelona, SpainUnited States (2:55.39, Beijing, China,)[7]
1992 4 by 400 meter U.S. relay team consisted of Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Michael Johnson and Steve Lewis.
Johnson ran the third leg in 44.73 seconds.
2008 4 by 400 meter U.S. relay team consisted of LaShawn Merritt, Angelo Taylor, David Neville and Jeremy Wariner.

Only man to win 200 meters and 400 meters at the same Olympics (1996 Atlanta)

Only man to repeat as Olympic champion in 400 meters (1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney)

IAAF World Championships records

EventTimeDateVenueSurpassed by
200 meters19.79Gothenburg, SwedenUsain Bolt (19.19 seconds)
400 meters43.18Sevilla, SpainNever been surpassed
4 x 400 meter relay2:54.29 (42.91)Stuttgart, GermanyNever been surpassed
4 by 400 meter U.S. relay team consisted of Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Butch Reynolds and Michael Johnson.
Johnson ran the anchor leg in 42.91 seconds, which is the fastest 400 meters ever run by a human.

Fastest 4 x 400 meter relay leg in World Championships history: 42.91, fourth leg, United States relay team,, Stuttgart, Germany

Only athlete to win the 200 meters and 400 meters at the World Championships in a career (1991 Tokyo, 1993 Stuttgart)

Only athlete to win the 200 meters and 400 meters at the same World Championships (1995 Gothenburg)

Most gold medals won in World Championships history: Eight

Olympic record

4 by 400 meters

Achievements

YearMeetingVenueResultEventTime
1989USA Indoor Championships2ndIndoor 400 m
1989NCAA Indoor Championships1stIndoor 200 m20.59 AR
1990?Edinburgh, United Kingdom1st200 m19.85 AC
1990USA Indoor Championships1stIndoor 400 m47.43
1990USA Indoor Championships1stIndoor 200 m20.72
1990USA Outdoors ChampionshipsNorwalk1st200 m19.90
1990NCAA Outdoors ChampionshipsDurham1st200 m20.31
1990Goodwill GamesSeattle, United States1st200 m
1991IAAF World ChampionshipsTokyo, Japan1st200 m20.01
1991USA Indoor Championships1stIndoor 400 m46.70
1991USA Outdoors ChampionshipsNew York City, United States1st200 m20.31
1991IAAF / Mobil Grand Prix FinalBarcelona, Spain1st200 m19.88
1992U.S. Olympic TrialsNew Orleans, United States1st200 m19.79
1992Crystal PalaceLondon, United Kingdom1st400 m43.98 AC
19921992 Summer OlympicsBarcelona, Spain1st4 x 400 m Relay2:55.74
(3rd leg, 44.73)
1993IAAF World ChampionshipsStuttgart, Germany1st4 x 400 m Relay2:54.29
(4th leg, 42.91)
1993IAAF World ChampionshipsStuttgart, Germany1st400 m43.65 AC
1993USA Outdoors ChampionshipsEugene, United States1st400 m43.74
1993IAAF / Mobil Grand Prix FinalLondon, United Kingdom3rd200 m
1994Goodwill GamesSt. Petersburg, Russia1st200 m20.10 AC
1995IAAF World ChampionshipsGothenburg, Sweden1st4 x 400 m Relay2:57.32 AC
(4th leg, 44.11)
1995IAAF World ChampionshipsGothenburg, Sweden1st200 m19.79
1995IAAF World ChampionshipsGothenburg, Sweden1st400 m43.39 AC
1995?Reno, United States1stIndoor 400 m44.97
1995USA Indoor ChampionshipsAtlanta, Georgia1stIndoor 400 m44.63
1995USA Outdoors Championships1st200 m19.83
1995USA Outdoors ChampionshipsSacramento, United States1st400 m43.66
1995IAAF / Mobil Grand Prix FinalMonaco1st200 m19.93
1996Atlanta Grand Prix FinalAtlanta, United States1st200 m19.83
1996U.S. Olympic trialsAtlanta, United States1st400 m43.44 US
1996U.S. Olympic trialsAtlanta, United States1st200 m19.66
19961996 Summer OlympicsAtlanta, United States1st400 m43.49
19961996 Summer OlympicsAtlanta, United States1st200 m19.32
1996USA Indoor Championships1stIndoor 400 m44.66
1996IAAF / Mobil Grand Prix Final1st400 m
1997IAAF World ChampionshipsAthens, Greece1st400 m44.12
1998Goodwill GamesNew York City, United States1st400 m43.76
1998Oslo, Norway3rd400 m44.58
1999IAAF World ChampionshipsSeville, Spain1st4 x 400 m Relay2:56.47 AC
1999IAAF World ChampionshipsSeville, Spain1st400 m43.18
2000Pietersburg, South Africa1st200 m19.71 AC
2000Pretoria, South Africa1st300 m30.85 WB
2000South Africa1st400 m43.9
2000U.S. Olympic TrialsSacramento, United States1st400 m43.68
20002000 Summer OlympicsSydney, Australia1st400 m43.84

Track records

As of 21 September 2024, Johnson holds the following 31 track records for 200 metres and 400 metres.

A performance in

red text was wind-assisted.

200 metres

LocationTimeWindspeed
m/s		DateNotes
19.32
PB 		+ 0.4 01/08/1996 Former WR, former Olympic record
19.85 + 0.4 06/07/1990
20.21 + 2.2 17/08/1990
19.79 + 0.5 11/08/1995
19.79 + 1.0 28/06/1992
19.90 + 0.3 16/06/1990
19.71 + 1.8 18/03/2000
19.83 + 3.5 18/06/1995
19.91 + 1.9 13/07/1992
San José 19.99 + 2.5 27/05/1995
19.94 + 1.4 15/09/1991 Track record shared with
James Sanford (USA) from 07/06/1980.
19.77 + 0.6 08/07/1996

400 metres

LocationTimeDateNotes
Arlington 44.25 06/05/1995
43.44 19/06/1996 Fastest time ever run in USA
43.94 27/08/1993
44.58 23/06/1990
44.36 01/06/1992
44.22 08/09/1991
44.32 13/08/1994
43.39 09/08/1995
43.90 06/09/1994
44.53 07/09/1996
Norman 44.23 11/04/1992
43.86 21/07/1995
44.21 09/09/1990
43.66 16/06/1995
43.18
PB 		26/08/1999 World Championships record
43.65 17/08/1993
43.84 25/09/2000
43.76 21/07/1998
43.75 19/04/1997

References

  1. Web site: Michael Johnson Biography and Olympic Results | Olympics at . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417115358/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/jo/michael-johnson-2.html . dead . 17 April 2020 . Sports-reference.com . 13 September 1967 . 2 April 2011.
  2. Web site: Michael Johnson . Player Bio: Michael Johnson – Baylor Bears Official Athletic Site . BaylorBears.com . 2 April 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110707214737/http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/c-track/mtt/johnson_michael00.html . 7 July 2011 . dead .
  3. Web site: World Athletes of the Year . . PDF .
  4. http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=I/age=N/season=0/sex=M/all=y/legal=A/disc=400/detail.html 400 Metres All Time (indoor)
  5. [4 × 400 metres relay]
  6. Web site: Johnson doubled the difficulty. September 14, 1999. ESPN SportsCentury. ESPN.com. May 14, 2013.
  7. Web site: United States powers to record-breaking 4 x 400m Relay gold . The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games . August 23, 2008 . August 23, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080824161228/http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/athletics/n214579942.shtml . August 24, 2008 .

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