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 success to a simple philosophy: set clear goals, commit fully, and adapt along the way. For him, it wasn’t about being the fastest man, but becoming the best athlete he could be. This mindset drove his daily training, sacrifices, and ability to overcome obstacles while performing under immense pressure.
After athletics, Michael applied his success philosophy to business, founding Michael Johnson Performance, which trains elite athletes and teams worldwide. He later launched the Michael Johnson Young Leaders programme, helping young people overcome adversity and create positive change in their communities through sport, leadership, and mentoring.
In 2024, he founded Grand Slam Track as CEO & Commissioner, a groundbreaking new series promoting track’s biggest stars through fan-focused storytelling.
Beyond sport, Michael is a leading corporate speaker (working with Microsoft, Google, UBS, Sony and more), and an award-winning BBC Sport pundit, named Pundit of the Year 2024. He also serves on the board of the Laureus World Sports Academy, using sport to drive social change for disadvantaged children.
Speech themes:
Motivation
Goal setting
Performing under pressure
Data driven performance
Overcoming obstacles
Culture
Entrepreneurial experience
Philanthropy and sport for development
