INDIANAPOLIS -
Michael Johnson breaking the men's 400m world outdoor record
in 1999 was honored by USA Track & Field as the
sixth-greatest
moment in U.S. track and field history in the
last 25 years.
The dominant
400m runner for a decade leading up to the 1999 World
Outdoor Championships in Seville, Spain, Michael Johnson
entered the worlds after pulling up in Stockholm a month
earlier, which left questions about his fitness.
Despite all
that, Johnson arrived in Seville in the best 400-meter shape
of his life and on a mission to make history. He easily
advanced in his opening round heat, sauntering across the
finish line in 45.35 seconds, before leaving a hint of what
was to come when he strolled across the line in his
semifinal in 43.95.
The stadium
in Seville was filled with anticipation prior to the final
as Johnson took his place in the lane five blocks. Johnson
was in command from the beginning of the race and posted an
astonishing 11.52 split in the final 100 meters to win the
gold medal in the world record time of 43.18 seconds.
Johnson's time was an astonishing .11 second faster than
Butch Reynolds' 11-year-old WR.
Johnson's
winning margin over runner-up Sanderlei Parrela of Brazil
(44.29) was the widest ever in a world or Olympic 400m
final. His victory brought his total of world titles to
eight, equaling Carl Lewis' all-time record. Johnson would
later add his ninth career world championships gold medal in
the 4x400m relay three days after his 400m triumph.
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