Track: Gold medal for Johnson but wind blows record

By PETER JESSUP

Fame is fickle, as 400m champion Michael Johnson quickly found out at Stadium Australia last night.

The American's race was already overshadowed by Cathy Freeman's victory, and he was not even halfway around the track on his victory lap when he found that the biggest cheers were going to a Russian-born pole vaulter in Australian colours.

Johnson, who had just blitzed the field and looked as if he could have run faster, had his Stars and Stripes all ready to go and set off with team mate Alvin Harrison, who ran second.

The gold medallist looked decidedly bemused as the crowd focused on Tatiana Grigorieva, and it will be interesting to see how much power is in the spotlight that follows Johnson from here on.

Before this race, the sprint star's minders had fielded 800 requests for interviews from the world's media. The 33-year-old is rumoured to be on the verge of retiring and certainly it will be his last Olympics.

Johnson's coach, Clyde Hart, has said the sprinter was in better shape than he had been going into the world championships last year at Seville, where he re-set his world mark at 43.18.

But records were not to be broken on a night of swirling wind, though Johnson did not help himself with a slow start from the blocks. He was sluggish out, his reaction time of 0.610s the worst of the eight finalists. Best was Brazilian Claro Parrela in 0.280, Harrison about midway between the two.

But by the time they were off the turn and halfway down the back straight Johnson had passed Pole Robert Mackowiak in the lane inside him and when he cut across from six he was a clear leader.

As they came down the home straight and he went upright into that trademark position that makes him look so arrogantly efficient, mouth open, gold chain bobbing around his neck as he stretched away.

At the end he looked like he wasn't hurting much, could have pushed on and bettered the time if anyone had been pushing him.

Jamaican Gregory Haughton was third in 44.70s.

Johnson's winning time was the only one under 44s in the run to the medals, and was 0.35s outside his winning time in Atlanta.

But it was a foregone that, barring unexpected accidents, that he would win by a comfortable margin.

Johnson was pleased to relieve the pressure that had been on him to make history as first man to successfully defend the 400m title at consecutive Games - 22 others having failed.

"I'm thankful it's over - it's been a long day today. There's been a lot of pressure."

It would be his last major competition, he said.

"My Olympic career has been great. I'm very proud. This Olympics is very special because it is my last." He still has the 4x400m relay to run.