PDA

View Full Version : Michael Johnson to retire


iFroggy
03-13-2001, 10:12 AM
HONG KONG – Michael Johnson plans to retire after this summer's Goodwill Games in Australia, ending a career in which he won five gold medals at the Olympics and nine at the world championships.

The 33-year-old runner previously has said this would be his last year competing. He said Tuesday he did not want to "be an athlete who didn't leave when it was time."

The world record-holder at 200 and 400 meters said he still loves to run but he has achieved everything he ever wanted.

He intends to spend a lot of time with fans at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane in August when he will "officially say goodbye."

Johnson made his remarks after speaking at a seminar organized by an Internet company.

He did not compete in the recently concluded Indoor World Championships in Portugal.

Johnson became the first male runner to win both the 200 and 400 at the same Olympics in Atlanta in 1996. Johnson defended his 400-meter title in the Sydney Games and anchored the U.S. 1,600-meter relay team to victory.


Well, I like him a lot and he certainly had a great career, probably one of the best runners ever and one of my favorite.

I know you'll like this Marc, he's leaving still good and... he has the money. :D lol

Marc
03-13-2001, 04:39 PM
A runner's career is pretty darn short and this proves it. Like in tennis, for example, being 33 is "old" and "time to retire", isn't that great? I wish I could retire a 33. :)

iFroggy
03-13-2001, 05:17 PM
I hope to retire before then. :D

lmanchur.
03-13-2001, 05:45 PM
I admit that Michael Johnson is a great runner... however, I think he has a really bad attitude... at the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta, Michael Johnson proclaimed that HE was the "world's fastest man" after winning the 200-meter race... is it just me, or does the 100-meter sprint not determine the "world's fastest man"???... Who was it that won the 100-meter race that year?... Oh wait a minute -- I'm remembering!!... Canadian Donovan Bailey!, who not only won the gold in Sydney that year, but also set the world record at 9.84 seconds!!!

...THEN, they had a race in Toronto a year later to determine who really was the fastest... one on one for 150 meters... Bailey won. Johnson lost. Who's faster?

Anyway, besides the "Johnson vs. Canada" incident, I agree that I loved Michael Johnson -- he was one amazing runner, and hopefully he can rack up a few more medals before he retires.

Wedge231
03-13-2001, 05:53 PM
Wow, big news. Nice to see him retire on top. I always respected this guy a lot.