Usain Bolt has fiercely responded to Michael Johnson’s claim that he would have beaten him in a 200m race, making it clear that the history of their respective careers proves otherwise. The exchange between the two sprinting legends began when Johnson, during an interview on The High Performance Podcast in 2024, stated that he believed his superior speed endurance and efficient running technique would have given him the edge over Bolt in a head-to-head 200m contest.
Johnson, a multiple Olympic gold medalist, made the remark with a chuckle, acknowledging that while both athletes were confident in their own abilities, the two would never have had the chance to race against each other. He emphasized that he would have been victorious, citing his precision and endurance as the keys to his success in the 200m, a race he dominated in his time.
Johnson’s achievements in the 200m were remarkable. He set an incredible 200m world record of 19.32 seconds at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, a time that stood for over a decade. His mechanical precision, especially in the 400m and 200m, made him one of the most dominant sprinters in history. However, when Bolt came onto the scene, he quickly shattered Johnson’s 200m world record during the 2008 Beijing Olympics with a time of 19.30 seconds, and then went even further in 2009 by setting a new record of 19.19 seconds in Berlin, a time that still stands today.
Bolt did not hesitate to respond to Johnson’s claims, recalling that Johnson had expressed skepticism when he first broke the 200m world record in 2008. Bolt reminded everyone that Johnson was one of the people on television who doubted his ability to set a new 200m record. “He was the one that said I could not break the world record the same time I broke the world record,” Bolt recalled, referring to Johnson’s comments made during the live broadcast. “Remember they had him on TV saying I would not, but I did.”
Bolt then asserted with confidence that had they ever competed in the 200m, he would have emerged victorious. He acknowledged Johnson’s skills but emphasized that his own extensive work on the 200m, particularly on perfecting the bend, would have made all the difference. Bolt spoke at length about the importance of mastering the corner, a critical component of the 200m race, and how he had dedicated significant time and effort to that aspect of his running. He cited Don Quarrie, a legendary Jamaican sprinter known for his exceptional cornering skills, as an inspiration for his approach to the race.
“The bend was something that I really worked on,” Bolt explained. “When I got to the level where I understood where to run, how to run, and how to distribute my speed around the corner, I figured that out during my time by working with my coach and understanding the 200m.” His focus on the curve, along with his innate ability to accelerate after the bend, gave him an edge over many of his competitors.
For Bolt, there was no doubt that he would have beaten Johnson. He flatly stated, “For me, he had no chance.” His confidence in his ability to dominate the race was unwavering. Bolt’s track record, including his multiple world records and eight Olympic gold medals, solidifies his status as one of the greatest sprinters of all time, and his performance in the 200m race is a testament to his unparalleled skills.
In the end, while Johnson’s achievements in the sport are undeniable, Bolt’s legacy in the 200m race remains unmatched, and his belief in his abilities has only solidified his place as the greatest sprinter in history.
