Jamaican-born Canadian track and field athlete Ben Johnson set a world record at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. However, on the fourth day he was disqualified and all his previously earned titles were canceled. In 1991, the sprinter again began participating in various athletics competitions, but two years later, in 1993, he was again caught using doping. This time, the verdict was life-long disqualification.
Athlete biography
Ben Johnson, full name Benjamin Sinclair Johnson was born on December 30, 1961 in Falmouth (Jamaica). When the boy was 15 years old, his family emigrated to the city of Scarborough, Ontario, (Canada). After completing his secondary education in high school, Ben Johnson entered the University of York. It was there that the sports coordinators noticed the successful data of the young man. He was not very tall, his height is 177 cm and a weight of 75 kg, and most importantly Ben agreed to victories in athletics.
Ben Johnson's athletic career
Dizzying successes
In 1982 in Australia, in the city of Brisbane, the Commonwealth Games were held. Ben Johnson, along with the University team, went to participate and returned with two silver medals. This was the first success of the Canadian.
Two years later, Ben was invited to the Canadian Olympic team as a relay race participant and a 100 meter runner, where the athlete received a bronze medal. American athlete Carl Lewis became Ben Johnson's main rival.
A year later, in 1985, the athlete crossed the 10-second barrier, ran the distance in 9 and 95 hundredths of a second. Carl Lewis was beaten. Ben Johnson became the world's first 100-meter winner.
In 1986, at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland, as part of the team, the athlete completed the 4 x 100 relay with a gold medal. He was preparing for the World Championships in Athletics. According to many, Ben was already the best sprinter in the world. And in 87, at the World Cup in Rome, he easily won the gold medal in the 100-meter race, setting a world record at 9 and 83 hundredths of a second. Now he was named the best athlete of the year. Ben Johnson was awarded the title of Officer of the Order of Canada. The sprinter became the richest athlete in the world. His salary exceeded $ 400,000. The track and field athlete received two awards: Lou Marsha and Lionel Konacera Avard.
Ben's failures and misses
1988 was a bad year for Johnson: he suffered several minor injuries, and at one of the championships he lost to Lewis, taking only 3rd place.
On September 24, 1988, at the Olympic Games in North Korea, the sprinter set a new world record, but three days later the medical commission found illegal drugs in the athlete's blood. The athlete himself did not even try to make excuses, adding that he took doping only in order to keep up with other athletes. The Olympic Committee suspended the athlete from participating in the championships for several years. His titles were revoked. However, the sprinter was allowed to compete in the Barcelona Olympics years later, but was again disqualified for using illegal drugs. In 1993, the athlete was disqualified from the sport for life.
Athlete's personal life
Johnson currently lives in Toronto, spends most of his time with his family, works as a football and athletics coach. In 2010, his autobiographical book "Seoul to Soul" was published, where Johnson called the Seoul story "unfinished business."
