Johnson pays homage to Usain Bolt
Former American track star Michael Johnson has called Jamaican sprinter and Olympic champion Usain Bolt the “greatest track and field star” ever.
Johnson, who won four Olympic gold medals and eight World Championships gold medals and is currently holds the world and Olympic records holder in the 400m, feels Bolt has surpassed the likes of him, and other American athletes Carl Lewis and Jesse Owens.
Speaking with Laureus, Johnson said, “You think of the great sprinters of the past who have done things that have never been done before like Jesse Owens, winning four gold medals, and Carl Lewis, doing that as well, and myself being the 200 metres and 400 metres world record holder and Olympic champion.
“So those are the names that you think of, the amazing sprinters of the past. But none of us has produced, in my opinion, the consistency and longevity that Bolt has and so to this point he has to be considered the greatest.”
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Johnson, a member of the Laureus was also asked if he thinks anyone has a chance at beating Bolt at the Olympics in Rio to which he responded, “If he’s healthy, I don’t think that anyone can stop him.”
Bolt is in the running for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award along with football star Lionel Messi and tennis ace Novak Djokovic, an award that Johnson believes bolt can easily win.
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