"My break through moment"- Michael Johnson recalls entering the International Athletes’ Club Grand Prix 1990 with sights on world record

Michael Johnson is widely regarded as one of the greatest track and field athletes of all-time. Recently, the American reminisced on what he considered to be his breakthrough moment in the world of sprinting, giving fans an inside look into the mindset of an elite athlete.

Johnson established himself as a promising player from his early collegiate career, winning multiple national championships and dominating his competition. 1990 was a particularly strong year for him, as he claimed the 200m gold at the NCAA championships, the Norwalk TAC Championships, and the Villeneuve d'Ascq Meeting BNP.

The American then arrived in Scotland for the International Athletes Club Grand Prix, storming to the win in a stunning 19.85s. Reflecting on this race, Michael Johnson labeled it the breakthrough moment of his career on X, writing,

“My breakthrough moment! Very, very, cold night in Edinburgh, Scotland, 1990, two months after winning NCAA and USA champs. Went into this race thinking world record, which was 19.72. I ran 19.85 that night. Would take another 6 years to finally get it!”

A year after this performance, Michael Johnson went to be crowned the 200m World Champion. Over the course of his career, he would win seven more World Championships golds, as well as four Olympic titles.

Johnson’s career also saw him breach the 20-second barrier 23 times in his career. The sprinter later went on to race the 400m, where he breached the 44-second mark 22 times.

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Michael Johnson shortlisted for BBC Pundit of the

Johnson at the 2022 World Athletics Championships (Image Source: Getty)

After his long and illustrious career as a sprinter came to an end, Michael Johnson has continued to stay closely associated with the world of track and field. In 2001, the American joined the BBC team as a pundit, providing various in-depth insights on sporting events.

Johnson has covered a plethora of competitions for the broadcaster, and he has been shortlisted as BBC’s Pundit of the Year for his coverage of the Paris Olympics.

Outside of his adventures as a pundit, Michael Johnson is keen on helping the sport of track and field grow. He has recently launched ‘Grand Slam Track', a league that will feature elite runners competing in America four times a year. The league is set to commence in 2025 and has already signed on runners like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Fred Kerley, Kenny Bednarek, Marileidy Paulino, Josh Kerr, and more.