Michael
Johnson to receive the “Distinguished
Career Award” at World Athletics Gala in
Monte Carlo Sporting Club
IAAF
Release
19 November 2001
– MONTE CARLO – Monaco – Next Sunday,
25 November, the International Athletic
Foundation will award Michael Johnson
its prestigious “Distinguished Career
Award”, during the World Athletics Gala
in the Salle des Etoiles of the Monte
Carlo Sporting d’Ete.
Only three athletes have in the past been recipients of the award: Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA), Heike Daute-Drechsler (GER) and Sergey Bubka (UKR). The award to Johnson recognizes the exceptional results achieved by the American athlete in over ten years of international competition. Michael Johnson retired from competition last September owning two world records: 200 metres, set at the Atlanta Olympics with a time of 19.32 and 400 metres, set at the 1999 World Championships in Seville with 43.18. Johnson also is co-holder of the 4x400 metre relay record, with 2:54.20 set at the Goodwill Games in Uniondale (NY) on 22 July 1998.
But the most impressive points of this 34-year-old’s career are his victories: 5 Olympic gold medals (3 individual and 2 relays), nine World Championship golds (6 individual and 3 in relays), 58 consecutive victories over 400 metres (from 1990-1997) and 32 over 200 metres (1990-1992). Anyone retaining any doubts about the athletic greatness of Michael Johnson can remove them by considering that he is the only man in the world to have covered the 400 metres, in a relay leg, in 42.93; the only man in over 100 years of Olympic history to have won the 200m-400m double in the same games and the only man to successful defend an Olympic 400m title (1996-2000).
Above and beyond his prowess on the track, comparable only to the performances of Jesse Owens and Carl Lewis, the International Athletic Foundation award is recognition of the exemplary conduct and sportsmanship always shown by Johnson.
During the World Athletics Gala 2001, organized in collaboration with the EBU, the IAAF, Compagnie Monegasque de Banque and MONDO, the Honorary President of the Foundation, His Serene Highness Prince Albert of Monaco and the President of the Foundation and of the IAAF, Lamine Diack, will announce the winners of the “Athletes of the Year” awards.
ENDS