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Johnson to retire
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WORLD 200 and 400-metre recordholder Michael Johnson will end his illustrious career this year with a relays-only farewell tour.
The five-time Olympic gold medallist would compete in 4x400 and 4x200-metre relays in the United States and Europe before bowing out in September at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, he told The Dallas Morning News last Thursday.
“It looks like the next one will be toward the end of May somewhere in the Czech Republic,” the 33-year-old Johnson said.
“We're working with a lot of other meets. Zurich, Brussels, Berlin, probably Stockholm are the most likely. And there's a race in Poland.”
Johnson set new standards in the 200 and 400 metres with his unique, upright running style. He lowered the 200-metre world record to 19.32 seconds at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where he became the first man to win gold at 200 and 400 metres in the same Games.
Three years later, the Texan set the 400-metre world record with a sparkling run of 43.18 seconds at the 1999 World Championships in Seville, Spain.
He added two more Olympic titles in Sydney last year with victories in the 400 metres and 4x400m relay, crowning a championship career that included five Olympic and nine world championship gold medals. (SD-Agencies)
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