Sprint legend Michael Johnson believes Usain Bolt is the “greatest” sprinter in track and field history.
This means the former World and Olympic champion believes Bolt has already surpassed the likes of Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis and even the American himself, who watched Bolt bettered his previous 200m world record.
Johnson, who owns the men’s 400m world record, at 43.18 seconds, made the comment after Bolt joined a few other world-class personnel in the running for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.
There have been several debates over whether the double world record holder has done enough to be regarded as the greatest of all-time, but Johnson, a four-time Olympic and eight-time World champion — thinks the Jamaican unblemished record at major championships makes him better than everyone else.
The American said: “You think of the great sprinters of the past who have done things that have never been done before like Jesse Owens, winning four gold medals, and Carl Lewis, doing that as well, and myself being the 200 metres and 400 metres world record holder and Olympic champion.
“So those are the names that you think of, the amazing sprinters of the past.
“But none of us has produced, in my opinion, the consistency and longevity that Bolt has and so to this point he has to be considered the greatest.”
Bolt, the two-time double Olympic 100m and 200m gold medallist, will try to defend his titles at the Rio Games in Brazil this summer and Johnson thinks that if he’s fit, there capable of stopping the 29-year-old.
“If he’s healthy, I don’t think anyone can stop him in the Rio Olympics,” added Johnson.
Bolt, who holds six Olympic and 11 IAAF World Championships titles, owns the 100m world record at 9.58 seconds and 19.19 seconds for the 200m.
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