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Usain Bolt smashed Michael Johnson's 12-year 200 meter world record in 2008, but the American great has explained why Bolt would never have stood a chance of beating him if both ever got to actually compete on the same track.
Michael Johnson, one of the most decorated sprinters in history, has shared his thoughts on a hypothetical race against Usain Bolt in the 200 meters, claiming that his unique strengths would have given him the edge over the Jamaican legend.
Speaking on The High Performance Podcast, Johnson reflected on what such a match-up would have been like, admitting both he and Bolt are equally confident about who would have prevailed.
"I have asked Usain that question and his answer was predictably him, and my answer was predictably, me," Johnson revealed, adding humorously, "The good for me and for him is that we never actually have to do that."
Michael Johnson’s achievements in athletics are nothing short of extraordinary. Known for his upright, almost mechanical running style and short strides, he defied traditional sprinting techniques to dominate the 200m and 400m events during his career.
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At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Johnson became the only male sprinter to win gold in both the 200m and 400m at the same Games. His blistering 19.32-second run in the 200m final shattered the world record by an unprecedented margin and remained unbeaten until Bolt's era of dominance.
Beyond the Olympics, Johnson amassed eight World Championship golds and remains tied with Carl Lewis for the fourth-most gold medals won by a runner. He also holds an unparalleled record in the 400m, breaking 44 seconds 22 times—more than double that of any other athlete.
Usain Bolt's rise to global fame came with his record-breaking 19.30-second performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he broke Johnson’s 12-year-old 200m world record. The following year, Bolt lowered the record even further, setting an incredible time of 19.19 seconds at the World Championships in Berlin—a mark that has stood unchallenged since.
Bolt’s performances redefined the boundaries of sprinting, cementing him as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Yet, Johnson firmly believes his own efficiency and endurance would have prevailed in a direct race.
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Johnson cited his ability to rise to the occasion and his efficiency as reasons he would have come out on top in a 200m race against Bolt.
"I did not go into any race—and I had major competitors in my time both in the 200 and 400 meters—and sometimes, I went into one of those races at a disadvantage as I was just coming out of the other one, but I could not get into a race I did not think I could not win. I could rise to whatever occasion," Johnson explained.
He acknowledged Bolt’s strengths, particularly his explosive start, but argued that his own consistency and endurance would have been decisive.
"Usain is amazing and would have had an advantage on me a little out of the blocks," Johnson admitted. "But when he is slowing down in the end, he was not the most efficient while I am extraordinarily efficient. I would have beaten him on speed endurance—ability to hold my speed—and my ability to be more efficient, and I will stick to it until I go to my grave."
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