Michael Johnson
Once known as the ‘fastest man in the world’, Michael Johnson is an iconic Olympic sprinting champion.
Michael Johnson's videos
What Michael Johnson's clients say
"I just wanted to send a quick email to say thank you and to let you know what a huge success Michael was at the event. People were raving about his presentation and the feedback from clients was very positive."
"I just wanted to write a quick word to say thank you to Michael for coming to our Baillie Gifford conference at Gleneagles and presenting so spellbindingly at our dinner. The whole of the conference was a buzz after his performance and our clients were still talking about it the next day. He was also generous with his time – coming down for drinks at 6.30pm and staying with us till almost 11.30pm while people took selfies. From a personal point of view, I hugely enjoyed talking with Michael over dinner and introducing him on stage. Apart from being an athletics legend, he is a very intelligent and articulate guy and we had a super chat on a number of topics. Just a class, class act all round."
"A quick note to thank you for your help and also to pass on our – and HSBC’s – huge thanks to Michael for his time in Dubai. He was superb and I hope he also enjoyed his first live rugby experience."
Available for
Languages:Â
- English
Michael Johnson's 2024 biography
Meet Michael Johnson
The best 200/400 metre sprinter in the history of the sport of track & field, Johnson’s progressions through the ranks of track and field were swift and stunning. A dual event world champion, the likes of which were never seen before, he dominated the international scene winning a spectacular 19 international gold medals without a single silver or bronze.
As an athlete, Johnson accomplished many firsts, including becoming the first man ever to be ranked #1 in the world at both 200 metres and 400 metres, the first man to win both events at an Olympic Games and the first man to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 400m. Johnson broke the world record for 200m and 400m during his career and retired in 2000 with four Olympic gold medals and nine World Championship gold medals to his name.
Michael credits his achievements to a consistent philosophy of success that he applied over his 11 year career. He learnt early on that the amount of success he experienced was directly related to his level of effort, but beyond that he worked on the principle that to be successful in anything an individual must start with a goal. Only the individual can determine what success means for them. For him it was not being the fastest man, but becoming the best athlete that he could possibly be. It was this goal that enabled him to map out the steps he had to take, and motivated him to train hard every day and to commit to the sacrifices involved. As he learnt more about his strengths and weaknesses as an individual he was able to adapt that plan, learning how to overcome obstacles and how to achieve his personal best while competing under tremendous pressure.
Post athletics Johnson has taken the philosophy of success honed during his career and applied it to various business ventures, including Michael Johnson Performance, a sports performance training company that provides training and consulting to professional athletes, sports teams and youth athletes all over the world. More recently he founded Michael Johnson Young Leaders, which provides young people from around the world who have faced and overcome adversity with the tools to achieve a better future for themselves and their communities. By focusing on sport, leadership and community engagement, the Michael Johnson Young Leaders programme gives them the confidence, skills and resources to make a positive impact on the future. Participants experience a once-in-a-lifetime journey, which begins at the cutting-edge Michael Johnson Performance Centre, is followed by a year-long program of mentoring and support in their own communities and continued through a lifetime of credible connections and networks.
Michael has also gone on to establish himself as a leading corporate motivational speaker, having worked with such companies as Microsoft, Sony, UBS, Bank of Scotland, and Proctor and Gamble, and has achieved success as a television commentator and personality, working for BBC sport. Away from the corporate world he serves on the board of the Laureus World Sports Academy, whose Sport For Good Foundation seeks to achieve social change through the use of sport for children affected by social and political hardships.
Michael currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son Sebastian.
Michael Johnson's 2024 talks & topics
Overcoming Obstacles
Michael discusses how failure can be an asset and how one can learn from mistakes and stay positive in trying times.
Tools for success
Michael talks about how to maintain the discipline to stay focused, handle pressure and eliminate the fear of failure to set and achieve long-term goals.
Olympics
Michael shares the captivating story of his Olympic triumphs and the work ethic that it took to achieve his ultimate goal of Olympic glory.
Michael Johnson's 2024 speaking fees
- United States
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