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MJ denotes Michael Johnson.
100 metres:
1936 Olympics 45
1984 Olympics 45–6
1988 Olympics 87–8
1992 Olympics 181
1993 World Championships 18
1996 Olympics 33, 249, 251 2008
Olympics 175
Bolt and 84, 85, 86, 96, 121, 175, 256, 283
drugs and 194, 195, 198
height of sprinters in 85, 86, 95–6
MJ and 95
‘putting on a show’ 256
weight and 208–9
world record 87–8, 120, 175, 181, 208, 209, 215–16, 220, 237, 249, 250
150-metre race, 1997 249–53
200 metres
1936 Olympics 45
1984 Olympics 226
1987 World Championships 158
1988 US Olympic trials 70
1991 World Championships 189
1992 Olympics 3, 5, 6, 11, 151, 181
1996 Olympics 12, 14, 17, 20, 21, 22, 26–38, 161, 167, 249, 251, 255, 256, 259, 285, 286, 287
2003 World Junior
Championships 283
2008 Olympics 84, 86, 97, 121, 163, 175
drugs and 198
great competitors in 208–9, 210, 215, 216, 217, 218–19
MJ in conference championship, 1988 206
MJ ranked number one in 118
MJ sets American record for, 1988 104
MJ in state championships 61
physique and 93
protection for UK athletes in 177–8
training/strategy for 140, 159–60, 166
world record 3, 13, 37, 120, 151–2, 160, 161, 163, 167, 181, 237, 285
400 metres 20, 21
1988 US Olympic trials 70, 71
1993 World Championships 18
1996 Olympics 11, 15–17, 23–5, 27, 28, 30, 285
Bolt in 86, 120, 121, 283
doping and 189, 199
fatigue in 37, 79
great competitors in 210–11, 212–13, 215, 216
MJ 1988 season 104, 105
MJ aims to break world record in 150
MJ number one in the world 1, 118
MJ’s times for 151–2, 161
protection of UK athletes in 177–8
start in 22
strategy for 159, 160–3, 166
World record 17, 24, 53, 150, 158, 161, 162, 163, 212, 237, 270
4 x 400 relay 63, 189–90
Adlington, Rebecca:
coach and 277–8
fame and 240–3, 282
mental strength and study 155, 169–71, 217
technical success 98–9, 100
work ethic 110
Akabusi, Kriss 189
Ali, Muhammad 246, 257–60
Arco Jesse Owens Games 43
arm strength in sprinting 92–3
Arsenal Football Club 89, 146
Ashford, Evelyn 67
attitude, all about 179–86
Bailey, Donovan 181, 249–54
Balco drug scandal 190, 193, 194, 195, 199
Banks, Tyra 238
baseball 76, 199, 203
Baylor University 11, 12, 61–4, 132–3, 157, 158, 159, 270–1, 277
BBC 84, 222, 243, 247
beeper, MJ uses in training 12, 13, 14, 132–3
belief 43, 89, 118, 154–6, 175, 204, 283, 286
Benson, Matt 185
biomechanics 73, 90
Black, Roger 16, 23, 24, 25, 177
Boldon, Ato 28, 31, 33, 36, 37, 251
Bolt, Usain:
2003 World Junior Championships 282–3
2008 Olympics 84, 86–7, 88, 163
attitude to training 88, 120–1
can he go faster? 96–7
drug questions 202
inspires young sprinters 89
introvert 49, 236
pressure and 48, 175–6, 220, 221
putting on a show 256
self-belief 156, 283
star power 195, 236, 237
start 96
technique, physicality and 84–5, 86, 96–8
weaknesses 97
Bolt, Wellesley 86, 96
Borzov, Valeri 48
Boyle, Frankie 243
Brabham, Danny 80
British Olympic Association (BOA) 196, 198–9
Britain see UK
Bubka, Sergei 104, 271
Burrell, Leroy 208–10, 219, 220
‘call room’ 16–17, 144, 165, 222
Campbell, Veronica 198
celebrity 231–60, 282
Chambers, Dwayne 194, 197
cheating 187–204
Christie, Linford 85, 181, 251
Clarke, Davian 15, 23, 24
coaches, heroes and mentors 60, 261–79
blaming coaches 274
‘celebrity coaches’ 273
lack of parental support 274–5
team effort 275–9
thankless job 273
training partners 275–7
travelling with coaches 272–3
Coe, Peter 56–7
Coe, Sebastian xiv on ability to stay the course/dedication 164, 171
coach 266
criticism and 131–2
on expectations 171
on fallout from drive to win at all costs 219–20
on getting ahead of yourself 56–7
parental support 263–5
setbacks 152–3, 154
on special nature of Olympics 288
Comaneci, Nadia:
coach 266–7
devotion to training 123–4
fame and 243–4
inspires other athletes 64, 67
on special nature of Olympics 284
superstitions 147
technique 99–100
youthful energy 85–6
committing 100% 124–9
Commonwealth Games, 1990 49
competitive advantage of home
Olympics xii competitor, being a/competitive attitude 205–30
studying competitors 206–13
thinking too much about your rivals 205–7
Court for Arbitration in Sport (CAS) 197, 198
Cracknell, James 139
criticism/questioning, self-131–2, 137–8, 156–61
Crockett, Darryl 74
Crockett, Ray 74
crowd xii, 30, 31–2, 168
Dallas Cowboys 146
Dangelo 28
dedication 113–16
DeLoach, Joe 206, 207, 208
desire to succeed 101–41
details, difference in the 133–4
distractions, dealing with 145
DNA and technique 73–100
balance between 79–86
perfecting performance 89–98
physical gifts 76–8
super-size ability 83–6
technical success 98–100 World records and 86–9
doing what it takes to win 101–42
committing 100% 124–9
dedication 113–16
difference in the details 133–4
getting it done 129–33
hunger 117–20
injuries and 106–10
pushing hard 120–4
recognising one’s weaknesses 134–9
training smart 139–41
work ethic 110–13
downforce, sprinting and 94–5
drive phase, sprinting 32, 85, 95
drugs, performance-enhancing 190–204
confusing rules concerning 196–8
future of 199–204
governing bodies and 196–8
Olympic athletes held to a higher standard 202–4
questions over any standout performances 202–3
testing 193–9
see also under individual competitor name
endorsements:
earnings from 237
fall in form and 10
given too early 56
MJ and 10, 237
politically correctness and 246
restrictions in contracts 75, 116, 117, 118, 177
European Championships:
1978 171
1980 171
2010 247–8
expectation 58, 113, 179–86, 273
Adlington and 169, 170, 171
Bolt and 176
Comaneci and 244
Freeman and 172
from home crowd xii, 168
Gunnell and 182
Hoy and 168
managing 175
Olympic, special nature of 203
Redgrave and 184–5, 186
Spitz and 182–3
Thorpe and 173, 174
your own 48
explosive power 6, 55, 77, 95, 96, 138
Ezar, Joel 60
fame, coping with 235–60
Farmer-Patrick, Sandra 166, 217
fatigue 30, 79, 160, 162
fear of losing 176–86
Federal Drug Administration (FDA) 200
Felix, Allison 198
fever, catching Olympic 39–72
financial gain as motivation 116
Florence, Derrick 61
focus:
celebrity and 231–60
maintaining 32–3, 34, 35, 104, 107–8, 113–16, 117, 214–20, 222–5
formula, winning 147–8
Foster, Greg 271
Foster, Tim 139
fraternising with competitors 217–20
Fredericks, Frankie:
150-metre race, May, 1997 251
1992 Olympics 181
1996 Olympics 28, 31, 33, 36, 37, 165, 167
as a competitor 210
level of success 181
MJ loses race to, 1996 215–16
MJ races, Rome, 1992 218, 219
MJ’s respect for 210
Freeman, Anne-Marie 114–15
Freeman, Cathy xiv attitude 179–80
fame and 235–6
focus 114–15
pressure, dealing with 171–3
questions own readiness 178–9
sense of relief and joy at winning Olympic gold 286–7
shyness 49
Freeman, Cecilia 114
Furniss, Bill 98, 99
Garcia, Ivan 28, 36
Gatlin, Justin 194, 198
Gay, Tyson 83–4, 198
gene doping 201
George Mason University 277
getting beyond yourself 56–8
Greene, Maurice 88, 256
Grey-Thompson, Tanni 46, 85, 102–3, 182
Gunnell, Sally 64, 105
on competitors 214–15, 216–17
‘confidence runner’ 147
dedication 113–14
fame and 244–5
fear of losing 182
parents 263
on success and the mind 164–5
visualisation 166
Haines, George 119
Harrison, Alvin 15
Harry, Armin 87
Hart, Clyde (‘Coach’):
1992 Olympics 5, 8, 10
1996 Olympics 11, 12, 13, 14–15, 17, 27
Baylor University and 11
MJ and 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14–15, 17, 27, 28–9, 80, 90, 93–4, 105, 133, 140, 160, 265–6, 270–1, 272, 277, 278
MJ’s running style and 90, 93–4
performance-enhancing drugs and 192, 231
positivity of 8
video analysis and 80, 93
Wariner and 162
Hatfield, Tobie 21
Haughton, Greg 277
Heard, Floyd 62
heat of battle 205–10
competitive attitude 217–22
know your rivals 207–13
preparing for battle 222–5
razor-sharp focus 214–17
retaining perspective 225–9
unlikely motivator 230
height of sprinters 85–6, 95–6
Henry, Gary 60
Hines, Jim 87
Hoy, Chris 77–8, 83
kilo 126–7
lack of coaching/self-made athlete 275
pressure and 168, 169
racing strategy 125–6, 128–9
sacrifice 130
team sprint 128–9
work ethic 110–11, 124–9
human growth hormone 201
hunger 117–20
Hunt, Brad 3, 11, 218, 233, 259
injuries 37, 38, 106–10, 252–3, 282
International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) 11, 196, 197, 198, 254, 289
IOC (International Olympic Committee) 81, 127, 198, 199, 282
Jackson, Colin 222
Jamaica 86, 175–6, 220–2
Johnson, Ben 87, 88, 191–2, 196, 252
Johnson, Deidre (sister) 41, 43
Johnson, Michael:
1984 Olympics xiii
1988 Olympics xiii, 47, 70, 104
1992 Olympics xiii, 2–10, 15, 32–3
1996 Olympics xii, 11–38, 148, 165, 167, 171, 181, 186, 231, 237, 238, 239, 247, 249, 250, 259, 270, 285, 287
1997 season 253
100 metres, running style not suited to 95
150-metre race, 1997 249–53
200 metres 1–2, 5–10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 20, 21, 22, 26–38, 70,
151, 159–60, 166, 181, 189, 208–9, 215, 218–19, 285, 286
4 x 400 relay 189–90
400 metres 1–2, 11, 15–17, 18, 21, 22, 23–5, 30, 70, 71, 150, 151–2, 158, 159, 160–1, 189, 210–11, 212–13, 215, 216, 249, 254, 285, 286
ambition for Olympic gold 1–2
attention to detail 133–4
change in motivation 148–50
charity work 258, 259–60
childhood bullying 39–40
childhood talent 40–2
district champion 57, 61
eating habits/alcohol and 130
fame 231–4, 237–40, 246–7, 249–60
focus 32–3, 104, 107, 214–17, 222–5
food poisoning and weight loss, pre-1992 Olympics 3–10, 152
injuries 37, 38, 252–3
knowing and understanding yourself 156–61
media icon 257–60
Men’s Track & Field Athlete of the Year, 1990 2
natural athleticism 74
NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) university championships 62–3, 70, 104
Nike gold shoes 18–22
parents 42–3, 261–2, 263
perfectionism 131–2
performance-enhancing drugs and 190–204
pride in winning/hatred of losing 42, 43, 58–9, 61, 176–9
proving himself 253–7
quest for Olympic gold 1–38
race preparation 26–31
race strategy 159–61
regional champion 57, 61
retirement 88–9, 136–7, 150, 190
returns 4 x 400 relay gold medal 190–1
running style 90–5
sacrifice 130
schooldays 57
seriousness 257
setbacks 70–1, 249–53
shyness 39, 44
sport, talent/lack of 41, 74–5
state champion 57–8, 61
tears 71
track scholarship/university 61–4, 104
tune-up race, Salamanca, Spain, 1992 3–4
US Olympic trials 3, 5, 37, 151–2, 160
visualisation, default focus response 31, 33, 165–6
weaknesses 136
weight/strength training 92, 105, 136
winning formula 148
World Championships, 1993 18, 158, 211
world record, 200
metres 37, 160, 161, 163
world record, 400
metres 24, 150, 161, 162, 163, 212
Jones, Marion 194–5, 199
Joyner-Kersee, Jackie 66, 67–9, 104, 225–9, 271, 289
Károlyi, Béla 100, 266–7, 270
Károlyi, Marta 100
King, Emmit 180
Kingdom, Roger 104
knowing and understanding yourself 156–61
Korbut, Olga 64
Lattany, Mel 181
Lewis, Carl 271
150-metre race, 1997 251
1984 Olympics 45–6
1988 Olympics 191–2, 208
1992 Olympics 181
height 85
MJ watches race 104
training partners 207
US Olympic Sports Festival,
Houston, 1986 62
US Olympic trials 219
limelight, living and competing in: coping with fame 235–41
living in the public glare 241–6
media management 246–9
MJ and 231–4, 237–40, 246–7, 249–60
MJ’s media icon 257–60
proving yourself 253–7
targeted 249–53
Lippincott, Donald 88
managing energy 161
Marsh, Mike 219
Martin, Roxbert 15, 24
Martin, Roy 60
McLean, Craig 126
media management 246–9
Mennea, Pietro 160
mental games 143–86
attitude 179–86
finding that winning edge 147–51
individual 161–3
losing hurts but it doesn’t kill you 176–9
mental strength and study 154–61
pressure of success 167–76
setbacks 151–3
strategic thinking 163–6
Michael Johnson Performance 54–5, 59, 82–3, 89–90, 140, 150, 157–8, 268
Miller, Tony 158–9
Mills, Billy 49
Minor, Deon 158–9, 162, 276, 277
mistakes:
correcting 160–1, 166
getting over 36
Mizuno 18
Mock the Week 243
Montgomery, Tim 194, 199
motivation, change in 148–50
Muftah, Ibrahim Ismail 23, 24
Muhammad Ali Parkinson Foundation 260
muscle and sprinting 92–3
music as motivation 28
National Lottery, UK 111
natural athletic ability, leap between 12 and 15 59, 82–3
natural talent/gifts/physicality/athleticism 53–6, 73–100
as a drawback 78
physical gifts 76–8
right body for right sport 77–8
NBC 231, 232
NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) university championships 62–3, 70, 104
NFL 89, 203
Nike 18–22, 63–4, 181, 237
Norman, Andy 177–8
Nunn, Glynis 226–7
Olympians who are not athletes 81–2
Olympic fever, catching 39–71
Olympic Games:
1936, Berlin 45, 87
1960, Rome 87, 259
1964, Tokyo 49
1968, Mexico 87, 119
1972, Munich 48, 183
1976, Montreal 46, 67, 99
1980, Moscow 45, 57, 64, 152–3
1984, Los Angeles xiii, 19, 45–7, 49, 57, 139, 214, 225–9, 265
1988, Seoul xiii, 47, 87, 104, 191, 196, 206, 208, 252
1992, Barcelona xiii, 2–10, 32, 33, 49, 64, 147, 152, 181, 182, 184, 210, 216, 217, 240
1996, Atlanta xii, 11–38, 71, 144–7, 148, 165, 167, 168, 171, 181, 184, 186, 231–4, 237–40, 247, 249, 250, 259, 285, 286, 287
2000, Sydney 78, 107, 126, 145, 150, 156, 168, 171–5, 240
2004, Athens 53, 112–13, 126, 168, 195, 282, 285
2008, Beijing xi, 76, 84, 86–7, 88, 127, 163, 169, 175, 240, 241
2012, London xi, xiii, xv, 52, 77, 131–2, 168, 175, 176, 290
feeling of winning 285–8
motto 73
organisation of 288
popularity of 290
special nature of 284–91
Olympic Order 244
Owens, Jesse 45, 87
Pan Pacific Championships 53
parents 10, 49, 56–7, 86, 96, 114, 121, 133–4, 156, 157, 180, 188, 261–5, 270, 274–5
perfecting performance 89–98
perfectionism 131–3, 135
Pettigrew, Antonio 189–90, 191
Phelps, Michael 76, 169
physical gifts see natural ability
Pierre, Raymond 62–3
Pinsent, Matthew 139
positive thinking 143–4
Powell, Asafa 88, 220
preparation 144–5, 222–5
pressure:
as a motivator 230
sense of 29–30, 48, 58
of success 167–76
pride in winning/hatred of losing 42, 43, 58–9, 61, 176–86, 285
protection of UK athletes 177–8
Queally, Jason 126
questioning readiness 178–9
race strategy 159–61, 166
Radcliffe, Paula 89, 90
random testing of athletes 193, 195
Ray-Ban 237
Redgrave, Sir Steven 54
dealing with expectations 184–6
discovers rowing 44–5
endurance abilities 138–9
on magical nature of Olympic Games 290
Olympic fever 65
shyness 44
weaknesses 138–9
Regis, John 178
rehabilitation exercises 106–7
relaxed attitude towards competing, Jamaican 220–2
responsibility, athlete 271–5
Reynolds, Butch 158, 212–13
rivals:
fraternising with 217–20
know your 206–13
thinking too much about your 205–7
Rooney, Martyn 247–8
Ryun, Jim 153
sacrifice 129–30
‘safety net’ 122
Santa Monica track club 208
scholarships 61–2, 117, 270
selfishness 220
setbacks 70–1, 152–3, 155
shortcuts, no 187–204
future of performance-enhancing drugs use 199–204
how using drugs happens 192–9
taking a stand against drugs 190–2
shyness 39, 44, 49, 66
Slaying the Dragon (Johnson) 259–60
Smith, Calvin 62, 158, 180–1, 215
spanner in the works 151–3
specialising in sports 55
speed endurance 162–3
Spitz, Mark:
approach to training 119–20, 284
pathway to Olympics 50–3
recognises weaknesses 134–5
thrives on expectation 182–4
sponsorship 116, 117, 118, 170, 194, 195, 204, 237, 257
Sports Illustrated 231–2
Sports Illustrated for Women 66, 69
Spracklen, Mike 138, 139
sprinting:
arms and 92–3
downforce and 94–5
drive phase 32, 85, 95
drugs and 201–2
height and 85–6, 95–6
muscle and 92–3
‘putting on a show’ 256
start 32, 34–5
strength and power 79–80
weight and 208–9
Stanozolol 87
Stephens, Patrick 6, 7
steroids 87, 192, 196, 199, 201
strategic thinking 163–6
Strong, Shirley 214–15
student of your event, being a 153, 154–5
success, pressure of 167–76
superstitions 147
‘taper’ 8
technique:
and athleticism, balance between 79–83 and DNA 73–100
technical success 98–100
Tellez, Tom 189
testing, drug 193–9
Thanou, Ekaterina 195
‘the clear’ 199
‘the cream’ 199
THG 197
Thompson, Daley:
1984 Games 45, 46
attempts to encourage Coe at 1980 Olympics 152–3
catches Olympic fever 47–8
confidence 45, 245–6
fame and 245–6
on importance of Olympic Games 287
lack of parental support 274–5, 282
physicality 76–7
sacrifice 129–30
self-belief 154–5
student of event 154
work ethic 77
Thompson, Todd 157
Thorpe, Ian 52, 53, 76, 83
comeback from broken ankle 107–9, 168, 282
physical attributes 78
pressure and 173–5, 202–4
Time 231
Title IX 68
training:
beeper, using 12, 13, 14, 132–3
committing to 101–41
environment 157, 282
impossibility of developing superior athleticism through 97–8
making adjustments in 14, 15, 160
MJ’s love of/dedication to 62, 232, 234, 247, 251
partners 151, 158–9, 162, 275–7
smart 139–41
technical versus physical 82
Twitter 247–8
2 Pac ‘Me Against the World’ 28, 29
UK athletes:
2012 and xi–xii
doping and 196, 197–8
funding of 111
protection of 177–8
system of developing athletes and xii
UK Athletics 196
UK Bobsleigh team 89
University of Houston 207, 208
University of Texas 270
University of West Indies 221
upper body strength 79–80, 151
US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) 197, 199
US Championships: 1989 189
1990 159
1993 211
1997 254
1998 256
US national team 63
US Olympic Committee (USOC) 93–4, 196, 198
US Olympic Sports Festival 62
USA Track and Field 196
video analysis 80, 157–9
visualisation 16, 31, 33, 165–6, 222
Wariner, Jeremy 161–2, 198–9
Washington, Tyree 254–5
watching other athletes 158–9
Watts, Quincy 18, 210–11
weaknesses, recognising 97, 119, 130, 131–2, 134–9, 207
‘whereabouts’ form 194
winning:
edge, finding that 147–51
pride in/hatred of losing 42, 43, 58–9, 61, 176–86, 285
win at all costs, fallout from 219–20
Woods, Tiger 74
work ethic 77, 110–13, 119, 155, 214
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 197, 199, 201, 202
World Championships:
1983 65, 158
1987 63, 158
1991 189
1993 18, 166, 182, 211, 216
1995 277
1997 254
1999 161
2003 282–3
2009 84, 169, 170
world records:
100–metre 87–8, 120, 175, 181, 208, 209, 215–16, 219, 220, 237, 249, 250
110 metres hurdles 104
200–metre 3, 13, 37, 120, 151–2, 160, 161, 163, 167, 181, 237, 285
400–metre 17, 24, 53, 150, 158, 161, 162, 163, 212, 237, 270
1,000–metre time trial 112–13
marathon 89