• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
100m world record holder before Usain Bolt was once removed from the record books and kicked out of the Olympics

Home> Athletics

Published 10:11 18 Feb 2025 GMT

100m world record holder before Usain Bolt was once removed from the record books and kicked out of the Olympics

Once the greatest sprinter in the world, he was stripped of his Olympic gold medal and his record time was erased

Ryan Baldi

Ryan Baldi

More than two decades before Usain Bolt set the 100m world record in 2009 that still stands to this day, another Jamaica-born star wrote his name into the history books.

Born in Falmouth, Jamaica, Ben Johnson moved to Canada when he was 14 years old and he represented his adoptive country on the global athletics stage.

One of the most talented sprinters of his generation, Johnson emerged in the 1980s as a rival to American superstar Carl Lewis in the 100m and 200m.

Advert

Lewis entered the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, Lewis was one of the biggest stars in athletics, having taken gold in both of the individual sprint events in Los Angeles four years earlier, in addition to golds in the long jump and 4x100m relay.

Ben Johnson winning the 100m at the 1988 Olympics (Getty)
Ben Johnson winning the 100m at the 1988 Olympics (Getty)

But Johnson shocked the world the previous year by not only beating Lewis in four of their five meetings over 100m but also smashing the world record for the event when he ran 8.83 seconds at the World Championships in Rome.

When the two men faced off again in the 100m final in Seoul, it was one of the most anticipated showdowns in recent Olympic history. And Johnson didn't disappoint, taking gold with a run that saw him eclipse his own record with a time of 9.79 seconds.

Advert

But soon after, Johnson failed a doping test for anabolic steroids. He would later admit to having used performance enhancing drugs since 1981.

His records was erased and he was stripped of his Olympic and World Championship medals.

While Johnson served a four-year ban, Lewis re-established himself as the sprint king. Having finished runner-up to Johnson in Seoul, he was retroactively awarded the gold medal. And at the World Championships in 1991, Lewis produced a career-best performance to take gold in the 100m in a world-record time of 9.86 seconds.

Advert

Johnson attempted to make a comeback and even represented Canada at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. But he performed poorly, finishing last in his semi-final heat. The next year, he failed another drugs test and received a lifetime ban.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images

Topics: Usain Bolt, Athletics, Olympics

Ryan Baldi
Ryan Baldi

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
2 days ago
  • 4 hours ago

    Usain Bolt named the one footballer he dreamed of mentoring to be the fastest alive but he never got the chance

    The Olympic legend didn't hesitate when naming the one footballer who could have rivalled him on the track.

    Athletics
  • 2 days ago

    Footage emerges of Usain Bolt making his return to the race track as Justin Gatlin immediately reacts

    Bolt's clip has certainly got fans - and Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin - talking.

    Athletics
  • 2 days ago

    Usain Bolt named the 'hardest' race at the Olympics and science backs up up his claim

    Usain Bolt believes one race is harder than the rest in the Olympics and science agrees with the Olympian.

    Athletics
  • 2 days ago

    Son of Premier League legend destroys Sir Mo Farah athletics record that's stood since 2011

    Sir Mo Farah's record of 12:53.11 was smashed by a former Premier League and England star's son.

    Athletics
  • Usain Bolt made his feelings clear on radical plan to strip him of every world record including 100m time
  • Usain Bolt admits he's still 'very sad' that he never got to race against world record holder in his prime
  • Usain Bolt was challenged to 100m race by sporting icon after being told he's 'afraid' to face him
  • Usain Bolt once snapped at reporter for 'disrespectful' question that left entire news conference stunned