THIS IS A TRANSCRIPT, IN REVERSE ORDER, OF THE ONLINE CHAT Q&A CONDUCTED BY MICHAEL JOHNSON FOR THE IAAF WEBSITE.
This is the end of the chat with Michael Johnson. Thank you everyone and Thank you Michael
Michael Johnson
Good bye everyone
Michael Johnson
I never tried to change my running style, especially after we found that it was more efficient
paul
Hi “ducky”. Hane you ever try to change yours running style?
Michael Johnson
I didn’t see myself as Olympic champion; I was just having fun and tryong to be better than the other kids I was running agaisnt at the time
runjumpthrow
Did you see yourself becoming an olympic champion when you were young?
Michael Johnson
Part of it is just tradition, but they also start very early teaching good skills for sprinters
jp
hi michael, what do you think about jamaican tracks, why are they so good even in high school for such a small country
Michael Johnson
If I hadn’t worked with coach Hart I would have coached myself
tiger
Hey, if you could choose to work with a coach other than coach hardt, who would it be?
Michael Johnson
Being consistent and ranked number 1, ten out of the eleven years of my career
Made2Move
what do you consider your best acomplishment?
Michael Johnson
Times are faster in the relays because you have a running start. there’s usually about a one second differential.
speezzz
why do some people run 1 second faster in the 4 x 400 mtr than in open 400 mters. like your best in 4 x 400 is an incredible 42.94 in relay and open 400 time is 43.18 mtr???
Michael Johnson
It’s not important what I think, if you think it affects your performance then don’t do it. Good luck
JasperR
Hi Michael, I have a bit of a strange question. My girlfriend wants to have sexual intercourse the day before the competition, but I think that it effects my performance in sprinting. What is your opinion?
Michael Johnson
weight training is very important. Upper body as well as lower body. To build strength and prevent injuries
teng
Hello Mr Johnson What do you think of the valud of weight training in the Athletics training
Michael Johnson
I think she can be better than Marie José Pérec was, she was the last great 200/400m female sprinter
Rambo
Do you thing Allyson Felix can be “the second” Michael Johnson?
Michael Johnson
I think he has a lot of question to answer. It’ll be interesting to see what happens
miss8090
what are your thoughts on maurice greene situation?
Michael Johnson
After I reached one goal, I always set a new goal. At the beginning of each season I set new goals for myself and that’s what motivated me.
noac
when you reached your best results what made you to go on and to be motivated?
Michael Johnson
I’m not interested in coaching. It takes a special talent that I don’t have
Dane Grant
Hi Michael, are you looking to ever become a full/part time athletics coach to pass on the knowledge you’ve picked up over the years?
Michael Johnson
Tyson is very talented but there is no way he can make the US 4x4
gc
who are your picks for the sprints and hurdles at beijing and do you think tyson gay should run on the 4x4 there?
Michael Johnson
It’s not important for sprints. VO2 is only important for endurance athletes
Leo
Michael do you think the vo2 or aerobic capacity is important for the 400mts runner¿ did you train aerobic capacity in the year or only in the beginning of preparation¿
Michael Johnson
What about Jeremy Wariner, Tyson Gay and Allyson Felix. And Liu Xiang and Gebrselassie
Lui
Since athletes like you or Carl Lewis have retired, there are so few and nearly no real stars left. Why?
Michael Johnson
Doesn’t matter what I believe. What do you believe?
nexis1
Do you believe that you are the greatest sprinter in history?
Michael Johnson
Kallur, she’s just much more consistent and she will probably be running very confident outdoors after her indoor world record
Pär
Who do you think will win the gold medal at 100 meter Hurdles in Beijing, Michelle Perry or Susanna Kallur? Or someone else?
Michael Johnson
No, absolutely not
giselle
Would you dream of running a full marathon one day…heheheeh
Michael Johnson
Yes, there won’t be any pollution in Beijing by the time of the Olympics. The Chinese will shut down all the factories to make sure it’s clear skies
nexis1
Do you think Gebrselassie will run the marathon in Beijing?
Michael Johnson
Xavier is an incredible talent, probably one of the most talented sprinters I’ve seen in many years. He’s best event is by far the 200m
AusTrack
Mr Johnson- what are your thoughts about Xavier Carter? do you think he has potential in the 100/200 or do you think he should go withe the 400m?
Michael Johnson
Yes
Rambo
Michael, do you think anyone in future will be able to win both 200 and 400 at Olympic or World Champonship?
Michael Johnson
NO I was always afraid of hurdles
AnnieG
Did it ever cross your mind to do 400m hurdles?!
Michael Johnson
You run in the right strategy but t’s different for each athlete so you lay have to make adjustments
bigsmooth
Hi MJ, I run 400 and maybe you can tell me how to run it better. i always go 100% the first 80m, then i try to relax and push at the end… what was your strategie…?
Michael Johnson
The gold spikes were a motivation and it was a fun project to work on with Nike. I was never afraid but always nervous
hurdy
Were the golden spikes a special motivation for you, or was it scary to feel the pressure that you had to win?
Michael Johnson
Weights were my least favourite as well. But I had to do it so eventually I learnt to enjoy it. My favourite part was speed training on the track.
Anna
weights is the least favourite part of my training! what were your favourite and least favourite things in training?
Michael Johnson
My father was my inspiration growing up. He was my hero and still is.
SchoolKid101
Hi, we are doing a topic on you right now!!! Who were your inspirations when you were young? x
Michael Johnson
No. I relied on my talent
AtheleteLover100
Hi Michael, have you ever used any “Performance enhancers” in your career?
Michael Johnson
I think Tyson Gay in the 200m and Jeremy in the 400m
lye
Hi Michael… Who do you think will take the Olympic 200m and 400m title
Michael Johnson
So i don’t think he will be affected
Michael Johnson
at all of those
Michael Johnson
His training program is still the same and people have to remember that coaching is only a small part of what makes an athlete successful. The biggest part is the athlete’s talent, hard work and ability to run the race and compete. And Jeremy is excellent
ian_sprint
Hi Mr Johnson, what is your view on Jeremys switch of coach?
Michael Johnson
10
Cat
Hey, what age were you when you started athletics?
Michael Johnson
I think she will be at the Olympics. I think her carreer has been amazing, she’s an example of a real hero in the sport
Trackgreats
Do you think Merlene Ottey will be at this years Olympics?and what do you think of her career?
Michael Johnson
It’s not true that if you can imagine it you can achieve it. I once imagined I was a basket ball player and I’m terrible at basket ball still. You control your adrenaline by taking a professional approach to your sport and focus on execution
giselle
They say if you can imagine it , you can achieve it, yeah but it takes much more to that…How do you control your pre race adrenaline?
Michael Johnson
Trip Tyson Gay
trotter
what would your advice be to Asafa Powell to win 100m Olympic gold
Michael Johnson
I only ran the 100m a few times just for fun. My personal best is 10.08
Dane
Did you ever try out for the 100m race and surely you were not far off the lead pace? Quite clearly your talent was to maintain that same speed from start to finish for the 200 and 400. I would love to see the graph that outlines your acceleration
Michael Johnson
The preparation takes place during the year while you’re training. I always trained to run 100% in each round if I have to but you rarely have to
AnnieG
It is midnight here in Australia and I’m meant to be in bed but I had to stay up to talk to you! How did you cope with the many rounds of both the 200m and the 400m events at major championships in terms of recovery and preparation for each?
Michael Johnson
To work really hard and not take the talent for granted and understand that they have a great opportunity and be thankful for that
Hobbes
what are the most valuable ethics you pass on to your athletes?
Michael Johnson
Yes but it will be difficult. It may happen this year, it may happen five years from now
malak
do you think Jeremmy Warriner can beat your 400m record ?
Michael Johnson
I started playing all sports when I was a kid just for fun. I played soccer, football, baseball, basket ball and track. In high school I started to do only track, but still just for fun. At University is when I got serious
Leo
Hello Michael, I´m Leo from Argentina. Tell me about your begining in the tracks… did you start at something as kids athletics or start to runnin in the university?
Michael Johnson
Is different for every athlete depending on how much speed and how much strength you have but the general strategy is to get up to speed as quickly as possible, then relax through the 200m then gradually start to build up into a kick for the last 100m
speedster2002
Hi Michael. what are your tatics for running the 400m?
Michael Johnson
The boycott in 1980 and 1984 were a bad idea and people should have learnt from those boycotts and know that it would be a bad idea now as well
Elya
I am very disappointed in politicians and citizens of the world as they endeavour to boycott the olympics. What is your response to those who are pushing for a boycott.
Michael Johnson
I think that LaShawn Merritt can challenge Jeremy but I don’t think he can beat him
bambam
Do you think anyone can challenge Wariner this season? Are there any 400m runners out there who even believe he can be beaten?
Michael Johnson
Tyson Gay in measure sprinters based on consistency and he’s the more consistent. He’s got better performances at championships and then with Asafa Powell is a great talent but he can never get it done. He’s failed time after time at the championships.
Lui
Mr. Johnson, who would you say is the better 100-m-sprinter: Tyson Gay or Asafa Powell?
Michael Johnson
Yes, all records will be broken sometime but you never know when. Tyson Gay is probably the only person right now that I would say he’s capable but it’s difficult
greektrackfun
Hello Mr Johnson. I was wondrering if you believe that one day your WR of 19.32 will break. If yes (because for me it seems impossible) from who?
Michael Johnson
I’m ready to answer all your questions
Michael Johnson
Hello everyone, I’m here in Oslo to promote the Golden League series
Moderator
Welcome to all our internet fans
