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The American sprint legend, widely regarded as one of the most consistent athletes of his time, has acknowledged the difficulties of being in track and field and given athletes tips on how to maintain their longevity in the sport.
American sprint legend Michael Johnson, one of the most consistent athletes of his time, has given athletes tips on how to maintain their longevity in the sport and avoid injuries and setbacks at all cost.
The four-time Olympic 400m champion, speaking in an interview with Dr. Gregory Haughton, pointed out that athletes and coaches of this generation mostly focus on running fast times all the time, but that’s not how things should be.
He explained that there are times to run fast and there are other instances where an athlete should just chase a win and not necessarily a faster time. Michael Johnson observed that some athletes usually post fast times in local meets and races that do not matter but when it comes to major championships like the Olympics, they fail to show up as required.
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He explained that unless aiming for a world record, it does not make sense for an athlete to run fast at a Diamond League Meeting and then post the contrary in the semifinal of an Olympic Games. He urged athletes to maintain consistency and build on their momentum every season and always ensure that they show up when it matters.
“It’s understanding that this sport is really difficult…it’s a very difficult sport and consistency is key. I’ve been watching the US Championships, Jamaican Championships and all the championships and I could notice that a lot of athletes and coaches are focused on running fast and there’s time to be focused on running fast in your career and there’s a time and there’s time for them to be running consistently,” Michael Johnson said.
“If you can demonstrate that you can run fast, then you need to be focused. If you haven’t gotten there yet, then absolutely focus on running faster but if you are already running fast, you’re a 100m sprinter running 9.8, then you have to be consistent running that time.
“It’s not going to do you any good running 9.8 at the Prefontaine Classic or Paris Diamond League and then run 10 flat at the Championships or the semifinals of the Olympic Games.”
Michael Johnson added that during his days as an active athlete, believing in himself and knowing his goals always played a huge role in his success.
“The longevity comes when you learn to consistently deliver those high-quality performances in every race. You also need to understand how to get the best for yourself and understanding yourself as an athlete,” he added.
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Meanwhile, Michael Johnson is widely regarded as one of the greatest sprinters, having broken the 200m and 400m world records at some point in his career. He also held the world record in the indoor 400m and once held the world's best time in the 300m.
He is also the only male athlete to win both the 200m and 400m events at the same Olympics, at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Michael Johnson is also the only man to successfully defend his Olympic title in the 400m, having done so at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
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