Atlanta.

He continued to blossom in 1993, winning 11 of his 14 finals over 200 metres, capped by a world-leading 19.85 to win the World title in Stuttgart. His knack for medal collecting continued the following year with his first Commonwealth title in the 200, a bronze in the short dash, and a World Cup win in the 100 as well. In 1995, he again won silver in the World Championships 200 after a fourth place finish in the 100.

19.68 in Johnson’s wake

1996 would be his finest year. In a six-day period in February, he set world records in the indoor 100 (10.05) and 200 (19.92) metres in Tampere and Lievin respectively; both records still stand. He prepped for the Olympics with a 9.86 win in Lausanne, at thetime the third fastest performance ever. In Oslo, he ended Michael Johnson’s two-year win streak in the 200. With a 9.89, he was nearly as fast in Atlanta, where it took Donovan Bailey’s 9.84 World record to relegate him to second. A similar scenario played out in the 200, where again he struck silver, and again finishing behind a World record. This time, it Michael Johnson’s legendary 19.32; Fredericks’ 19.68 still ranks him as the second fastest ever over the distance. He ended his season with nine sub-20 second clockings, more than any other athlete has produced in a single season.

The medal collecting continued. The following year he collected another silver medal in the 200 at the World Championships, ran bests of 9.90 and 19.81, and ran nine