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American sprint legend Maurice Greene has revealed the one 'annoying' rival he would never accept losing a race to under any circumstances
American sprint legend Maurice Greene has opened up about the intense rivalry he shared with compatriot Tim Montgomery during his illustrious career.
Greene, a four-time Olympic medalist and five-time World Champion, revealed that Montgomery's antics and personality drove him to an unrelenting determination never to lose to him.
Greene, who held the 100 meters world record at 9.79 seconds, dominated sprinting in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His crowning moment came at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, where, despite tearing his quadriceps 35 meters into the race, Greene powered through to win his third consecutive world title in 9.82 seconds.
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'You didn't get anything in my time' - American sprint legend Maurice Greene agrees with Linford Christie on why modern sprinters have it 'easy'
Unlike modern athletes who get so many incentives even when they do not win any medals, sprinters during Maurice Greene's era only received medals and nothing else for their efforts.
This extraordinary feat placed him alongside Carl Lewis as the only sprinters to achieve such a milestone.
Reflecting on that race, Greene shared:"I pulled my quad 65 meters into that race, and I was like, 'This is gonna come off.' I ran my leg all the way through and clocked 9.82. I was like, 'God, I wonder what that race would have been if I stayed fit.'"
While Greene competed against legendary athletes like Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey, his rivalry with Montgomery stood out. Montgomery, who eventually broke Greene’s world record by 0.01 seconds in 2002, was later stripped of the achievement due to a doping violation in 2005.
Greene didn’t hold back when describing how Montgomery’s behavior fueled their rivalry. Speaking on The Powells YouTube channel, Greene explained:
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"It is just one person that I refused to let beat me. I don't care what it was, I would never let him beat me. That actually went through my mind, even when I was injured."
What made Montgomery particularly irksome to Greene wasn’t just his performance but also his personality and the controversies surrounding him. Greene said:
"He just irked me so much and just talked and talked. I do not know. In that time, our sport was going through turmoil, and he had part of the reason why. 'Project world record' and you are like with this guy doing this stuff, and you know. I was like, mother… That is why I was like, 'You are never going to beat me. I don’t care how or why.'”
Despite this fiery rivalry, Greene admitted that he could remain civil with Montgomery in person."I would probably talk to him and be cordial," he added.
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Greene’s refusal to accept defeat from Montgomery was emblematic of his broader approach to competition. His career was defined by moments of sheer brilliance, including his first 100 meters world title in Athens in 1997 and his world indoor 60 meters record of 6.39 seconds in 1998—a record that still stands. In 1999, he set the 100 meters world record and completed the 100-200 meters double at the World Championships in Seville.
Looking back, Greene credited Montgomery’s constant chatter and antics as a source of motivation."It is only one person that I just refused to accept losing to him," Greene emphasized.
While Greene’s career achievements cement his legacy as one of the greatest sprinters of all time, his rivalry with Montgomery remains a fascinating chapter in track and field history. It was a rivalry fueled by determination, pride, and an unshakable resolve to stay on top, even when faced with adversity.
For Greene, Montgomery was more than just a competitor—he was a constant reminder of what it took to remain the best. And for track and field fans, their clashes on and off the track will be remembered as one of the sport’s most intense rivalries.
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