Many consider Michael Johnson to be one of the best sprinters of all time. He was born in Dallas, Texas, on September 13, 1967.
Throughout his track and field career, he has set many records and accomplished much, especially in the 200—and 400-meter events.
He has been employed by the BBC since 2001 and has commented on several events. Since Athens 2004, he has been a part of the BBC’s Olympic athletics coverage.
Due to his unique racing style and reliable performance, he is undoubtedly one of the best sprinters in track and field history.
Michael Johnson’s earnings, endorsement, professional career, and other details are here.
Michael Johnson’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Michael Duane Johnson |
| Nickname | “The Man” &”The Duck” |
| Birth Date | September 13, 1967 (age 56) |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Birthplace | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Christian |
| College Team | Baylor |
| Turned Professional | 1990s |
| Current Net Worth | $14 million |
| Current Wife | Armine Shamiryan |
| Children | Sebastian’s children of first wife (Kerry D’Oyen) |
| Instagram Profile |
@mjgold4
|
After an excellent athletic career, retired American sprinter Michael Johnson has taken on various roles and endeavors.
Michael Duane Johnson was born in Dallas, Texas, on September 13, 1967. He was the youngest of five siblings.
Known for his distinctive running style and supremacy in the 200—and 400-meter events, he overcame early failures to become one of the best sprinters in history under the tutelage of coach Clyde Hart.
Early Career
Born in Dallas, Texas, on September 13, 1967, Michael Johnson started his athletic career in high school and furthered his skill development at Baylor University.
Johnson initially focused on his studies and did not compete in track during his first two high school years.
As a junior, he joined the track team and received guidance from his high school coach, Joel Ezar, who encouraged him to enjoy running without pressure.
Johnson enrolled at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, in 1986, attracted by its strong Baptist heritage and the reputation of track and field coach Clyde Hart.
Coach Clyde Hart spotted Johnson at Baylor University, where he broke the university’s 200-meter record.
Despite food poisoning, Johnson helped the U.S. 4×400 meter relay team secure a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics, marking his first taste of Olympic gold.
Professional Career
Johnson is regarded as one of the greatest sprinters in track and field history. His professional career includes numerous records, Olympic medals, and world championships.
Johnson won eight World Championship gold medals, dominating the 200-meter and 400-meter events throughout the 1990s.
He held the world record in the 200 meters (19.32 seconds) until 2008. In 1999, he set a world record in the 400 meters (43.18 seconds), which stood until 2016.
He also held the world record for indoors, 400 meters, and the world’s best time was in the 300 meters.
Johnson has been a television commentator and pundit for the BBC since 2001, covering multiple events, including the Olympics.
Founded in 2007, this center provides training and consulting services to professional athletes, sports teams, and youth athletes worldwide.
In 2024, Johnson announced the launch of a new professional athletics league, set to begin in 2025, to revitalize the international track and field calendar.
Wife
The retired American sprinter, Michael Johnson, is married to Armine Shamiryan and lives in Malibu, California. Johnson also has one son from a previous marriage.
Michael Johnson’s Net Worth Details
Michael Johnson’s net worth is estimated to be $14 million as of 2025.
His earnings come from his prize money as a professional Career, endorsements, and other sources.
Career Earnings
- Race Earnings: At the height of his career, Johnson earned up to $500,000 every race. This sum was noteworthy because he was one of the best track and field competitors.
- Initial Earnings: Johnson made between $30,000 and $40,000 in his first professional race, a Grand Prix.
The legendary sprinter Michael Johnson accumulated significant earnings from prize money, endorsements, and appearance fees.
Johnson’s first professional earnings came from a Grand Prix race, earning between $30,000 and $40,000.
Johnson earned up to $500,000 per race at the height of his career. For example, he received an appearance fee of $500,000 for a race in Canada.
During the peak of his career, Johnson’s annual earnings from race appearances and endorsements ranged from $500,000 to $600,000. Over the past few years of his active career, he amassed approximately $1 million annually.
Endorsements
Michael Johnson has secured endorsement deals with several major brands, contributing to his overall net worth and income as a professional athlete.
His endorsements include:
- Nike: Johnson’s endorsement deal with Nike was highly lucrative. His initial contract with Nike was signed in 1990, and by 1997, his deal was worth about $500,000 to $600,000 annually. Over the years, he made about $3 million from other endorsements.
- Other Endorsements: Johnson had endorsement deals with several major companies, including Samsung, Bausch & Lomb, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Hasbro, and Mobil Oil. These deals collectively contributed to his earnings, with Johnson making about $1 million annually from endorsements and appearance fees.
- Top Paying Deals: His most lucrative sponsorship deals were with Samsung and Nike, which could amount to tens of millions of dollars over the life of the agreements.
Career Stats
| Event | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Olympic Games | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| World Championship | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Goodwill Games | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 16 | 0 | 0 |
Olympic Achievements
1992 Barcelona Olympics:
- Gold in the 4×400 meter relay.
1996 Atlanta Olympics:
- Gold in the 200 meters with a world record time of 19.32 seconds.
- Gold in the 400 meters with a time of 43.49 seconds.
- Gold in the 4×400 meter relay.
2000 Sydney Olympics:
- Gold in the 400 meters with a time of 43.84 seconds.
- Gold in the 4×400 meter relay (later returned due to a teammate’s doping admission).
World Championships
- 1991 Tokyo: Gold in the 200 meters.
- 1993 Stuttgart: Gold in the 400 meters and 4×400 meter relay.
- 1995 Gothenburg: Gold in the 200 meters, 400 meters, and 4×400 meter relay.
- 1997 Athens: Gold in the 400 meters.
- 1999 Seville: Gold in the 400 meters with a world record time of 43.18 seconds and gold in the 4×400 meter relay.
Records Held
- 200 meters: World Record of 19.32 seconds (set on August 1, 1996, at the Atlanta Olympics, held until 2008).
- 400 meters: World Record of 43.18 seconds (set on August 26, 1999, at the World Championships in Seville, held until 2016).
- Indoor 400 meters: World Record of 44.63 seconds (March 4, 1995).
- 300 meters: World Best of 30.85 seconds (set on March 24, 2000).
Career Highlights
- Johnson is the only male athlete to win the 200-meter and 400-meter events at the same Olympics (1996).
- He is the only man to successfully defend his Olympic title in the 400 meters (2000).
- Johnson held the US national records for the 200, 300, and 400 meters.
- He broke 44 seconds for the 400 meters 22 times, more than twice as many times as any other athlete.
- Johnson has run 200 meters in under 19.80 seconds six times and under 20 seconds twenty-three times.
- He holds nine of the top 50 200-meter performances and twenty-two of the top 50 400-meter performances of all time.
FAQs
1. What is Michael Johnson’s greatest Olympic achievement?
Michael Johnson became the first male athlete to win gold in both the 200m (19.32 seconds, a world record) and 400m (43.49 seconds) at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. This historic “double” remains unmatched in Olympic history.
2. How many Olympic gold medals did Michael Johnson win?
He won four Olympic golds: 200m and 400m in 1996, 400m in 2000, and 4x400m relay in 1992. A fifth relay gold from 2000 was revoked after teammates tested positive for doping.
3. What world records did Michael Johnson hold?
Johnson set world records in the 200m (19.32 seconds in 1996) and 400m (43.18 seconds in 1999). He also held the indoor 400m record (44.63 seconds) and anchored the 4x400m relay team’s world record (2:54.29).
4. Why was Michael Johnson called “The Duck”?
His unique upright running posture, short strides, and low knee lift resembled a duck’s waddle. Despite this unconventional style, he dominated sprinting in the 1990s.
5. How many World Championship titles did Johnson win?
He earned eight World Championship golds: four in 400m (1993, 1995, 1997, 1999), two in 200m (1991, 1995), and two in the 4x400m relay (1993, 1999).
6. When did Michael Johnson retire?
Johnson retired in 2001 after a 14-year career. His final race was a 400m victory in London, capping an unbeaten streak of 58 races in the 400m from 1993–2000.
7. What impacted Johnson’s performance at the 1992 Olympics?
Food poisoning two weeks before Barcelona 1992 weakened him, causing a sixth-place finish in the 200m. He still won relay gold but called it his “worst Olympic experience.”
8. What post-retirement ventures is Johnson known for?
He became a BBC athletics commentator, authored the book Slaying the Dragon, and founded Michael Johnson Performance, a training center for elite athletes. He also coaches via his MJDrive racing simulator.
9. What awards did Johnson receive during his career?
He was named World Athlete of the Year (1996, 1999), AP Athlete of the Year (1996), and won the Jesse Owens Award three times. His 1996 200m race was voted track’s “greatest moment” in 2004.
10. How did Johnson’s running style defy conventions?
Experts criticized his upright stance and short strides, believing high knee lifts were essential for speed. However, his biomechanical efficiency and pacing mastery made him nearly unbeatable in long sprints.
