MADRID:
Michael Johnson
, the one with the golden shoes, has some golden words for
Neeraj Chopra
. Neeraj will be defending his
Tokyo javelin gold medal
in Paris.
Talking to TOI in Madrid on the sideline of the
Laureus awards
, Johnson said, "It's difficult. But if I can do it, so can Neeraj."
Johnson's own career is a testament of the heights that can be achieved through dedication and perseverance.
He remains the only athlete to have won both the 200m and 400m events at the same Olympics (Atlanta 1996) and the only one to have claimed consecutive Olympic titles in the 400m (Atlanta and Sydney 2000).
Someone who loves to talk about track and field, Johnson explained, "Defending a title comes with its own set of challenges and pressures. The expectation to win can be a heavier burden than the surprise of an unexpected victory. However, being a champion also has its advantages. Having achieved success before can provide a sense of confidence and experience.
"Competitors may approach the event differently when facing a defending champion. Some may resign themselves to competing for second place, while others may be motivated to dethrone the reigning victor. It can work both ways.
"Expected to win is a bigger load than someone who wins unexpectedly. It comes with an advantage. You have done that before. You have an entire country looking up to you. I was able to do it. So it's doable for Neeraj. But it's very difficult."
On his young compatriot
Noah Lyles
, Johnson could not stop gushing.
"I think there are lots of greats in athletics. We need to reorient our thoughts that athletics needs one big character.
Usain Bolt
was the biggest character in the history of athletics. There cannot be another Usain Bolt. And now he has retired. So shall our sport stop being watched? We cannot wait for another Bolt to come out of the blue. That doesn't happen. We need to focus on Noah Lyles. We need to follow his dream and write another story."
(The writer is a guest of Laureus Sports in Madrid)
English (US) ·