List of career achievements by Michael Johnson

This page details the career achievements of American track & field athlete Michael Johnson. Over the course of his career, Johnson consistently dominated his events, winning almost every time he took to the track. He set numerous world and Olympic records in short distance track, both as an individual and as a member of relay teams. His domination of the 400 meter race is unprecedented in the history of track and field, making him arguably the greatest 400 m runner of all time. For approximately one decade, Michael Johnson held the world records in the 200 meters, 400 meters and indoor 400 meters, as well as the world's best time in the 300 meters and the world record for the 4 by 400 meter relay. He is still a world record holder for the 4 x 400 meter relay. In 2004, Johnson was voted into the United States Track & Field Hall of Fame. At the ceremony, his record-setting 200-meter performance at the 1996 Summer Olympics was deemed the greatest track and field moment in the past 25 years. Johnson is generally considered one of the greatest and most consistent sprinters in the history of track and field.
Personal bests.
400 meters.
In the history of track, only 47 times has a runner run the 400 meter in less than 44 seconds. Johnson alone accounts for 22 of these 47 sub-44 performances.
Records.
World records.
Fastest 4 x 400 meter relay leg in history: 42.91, fourth leg, United States relay team, , Stuttgart, Germany
Consecutive 400 meter finals won: 58
Largest margin of victory in the 200 meters in 55 years (1991 World Championships)
Largest margin of victory in the 200 meters in history (1996 Olympics)
Largest improvement ever on a 200 m world record: .34 seconds
Largest margin of victory in the 400 meters in history (1999 World Championships)
Only athlete to be ranked #1 in the world in both 200 meters and 400 meters in the same year
First athlete to break 20 seconds in 200 meters "and" 44 seconds in 400 meters in a career
Only athlete to break 20 seconds in 200 meters "and" 44 seconds in 400 meters at the same meet
First athlete to break 45 seconds in indoor 400 meters: 44.97, , Reno, NV, United States
Most gold medals won on the track: Twelve (4 Olympics, 8 World Championships)
First athlete to win both 200 meters and 400 meters at U.S. National Championships (1995)
Olympic records.
Only man to win 200 meters and 400 meters at the same Olympics (1996 Atlanta)
Only man to repeat as Olympic champion in 400 meters (1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney)
IAAF World Championships records.
Fastest 4 x 400 meter relay leg in World Championships history: 42.91, fourth leg, United States relay team, , Stuttgart, Germany
Only athlete to win the 200 meters and 400 meters at the World Championships in a career (1991 Tokyo, 1993 Stuttgart)
Only athlete to win the 200 meters and 400 meters at the same World Championships (1995 Gothenburg)
Most gold medals won in World Championships history: Eight