Seville 1999. Men’s 400-meter world record.
Michael Johnson should have demolished the 400 WR in Zurich after his 19.32 200m in Atlanta, 1996.
Unfortunately he hurt his hamstring with that 100% all out effort, so we had to wait 3 years for this to happen. Everyone expected he would break the record; it was just a matter of “when”.
Unlike Butch Reynold’s 43.29 at Zurich 1988, a straight final invitational meet, Johnson went through the usual rounds with ease. In the semi-final, he literally jogs the last 100 meters and still runs 43.95. So you knew the record was going down, but would he break 43?
And yes, he was wearing his golden spikes, the ones he made famous in Atlanta 1996.
Both videos are presented here.
Jimson Lee
Coach & Founder at SpeedEndurance.com
I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.
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