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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