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Michael Johnson reunites with 400m royalty ft Quincy Watts, Danny Everett, and Carl Lewis
Michael Johnson was one of the most dominant sprinters in the 1990s, breaking world records and winning Olympic and World Championship golds. Recently, he got together with fellow sprinting champions Carl Lewis, Quincy Watts, and Danny Everett, who were some of the world’s best sprinters in the 1980s and 1990s.
Johnson himself scripted a historic career over the course of a decade. Winning his first World Championship in 1991, the American would go on to repeat the feat seven more times, alongside achieving immense success at the Olympic Games as well.
Recently, the 56-year-old got together with compatriots Lewis, Watts, and Everett in an iconic reunion at a USATF Journey to Gold event. The four sprinters were often each other’s fiercest rivals and dominated the sport like no one before them. Posting a photo of all four together, Michael Johnson wrote:
“400 royalty right here! I can’t even count the number of 43’s and Olympic medals here. Fierce rivals throughout the late 80’s and early 90’s but always respect! Watts, Everett, Lewis, and their coach John Smith who coached each of them against me.”
Between the four of them, Johnson, Lewis, Watts, and Everett claimed a total of 16 Olympic gold medals and 20 World Championships between 1980 and 2000. Johnson and Lewis were the most successful sprinters of the lot, with the former claiming four Olympic golds and eight World Championships, while the latter won nine Olympics and 10 World Championships.
Michael Johnson rues lost potential rivalry between Wayde Van Niekerk and Steven Gardiner
Meanwhile, Michael Johnson has labeled South Africa's Wayde Van Niekerk and Bahamian Steven Gardiner as two of the best 400m sprinters to ever do it. The American also expressed disappointment at the fact that injury issues for both athletes meant that a rivalry between the two never came to life.
Both Niekerk and Gardiner were originally meant to race the 200m at the recently concluded Adidas Atlanta City Games. However, the duo chose to forego the meet much to the disappointment of fans. Reacting to the news of their withdrawal, Michael Johnson wrote on X,
“Two of the best 400 sprinters ever. The rivalry we could’ve seen between them would’ve been one for the ages if they weren’t both plagued with injuries the last several years!”
Wayde Van Niekerk is the current world record holder in the 400m, having won two World Championships and an Olympic gold in the event. Meanwhile, Steven Gardiner is also a World and Olympic champion in the 400m, holding a personal best of 43.48 which is the Bahamian national record.
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