Bailey-Johnson 150-metre race
Encyclopedia
The Bailey-Johnson 150-metre race was a track and field
event that occurred in Toronto
, Canada
on 31 May 1997. In an effort to settle the dispute regarding who was the world's fastest man, a race was organized between 1996 Olympic
100 m champion Donovan Bailey
from Canada, and 1996 Olympic 200 m and 400 m champion Michael Johnson
, from the United States
.
In 1996, Bob Costas of NBC
, Bill Gairdner, and others, pointed out that Johnson's gold-medal performance in the 200 m (19.32 seconds) was faster than Bailey's 100 m performance (9.84 seconds) in that 19.32 divided by two is 9.66. However, the 200 m time almost always yields a "faster" average speed than a 100 m race time since the initial slow speed at the start is spread out over the longer distance. In other words, the second 100 m is run with a "flying start", without the slow acceleration phase of the first 100 m and without the greater than 0.10 s reaction time of the start. In fact, each 200 m gold medalist from 1968, when fully electronic timing was introduced, to 1996 had a "faster" average speed at the Olympics, save one, yet there had been no controversy over the title of "world's fastest man" previously.
In 1997, Johnson began performing television promotions in which he billed himself as "the world's fastest man." Bailey initially refused to challenge, stating that "the world's fastest man was decided in Atlanta". After verbal sparring between the pair, a made-for-TV, 150-metre race at Toronto
's SkyDome was scheduled.
The race was billed as a competition for the title of "World's Fastest Man", but it failed to live up to expectations when Johnson (well behind Bailey at the time), pulled up lame at the 110-metre mark claiming to have injured his quadriceps
. Johnson appeared to grab his quadriceps and then slowed to a stop before squatting on the track in distress.
Towards the end of the race, Bailey looked back at Johnson and waved for him to "come on" believing he had simply quit the race. Bailey finished with a time of 14.99 seconds and walked away with the $1.5 million prize. Johnson himself received $500,000.
Due to the injury, Johnson was unable to compete in the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
and could thus not qualify for the IAAF World Championships
later that year. The IAAF invented a new policy of giving a "bye" to the defending champions essentially to allow Johnson to compete (thus not losing the star appeal of the double world record holder). Johnson successfully defended his world championship in the 400 metres
in 1997.
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
event that occurred in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on 31 May 1997. In an effort to settle the dispute regarding who was the world's fastest man, a race was organized between 1996 Olympic
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
100 m champion Donovan Bailey
Donovan Bailey
Donovan Bailey is a retired Canadian sprinter, who once held the world record for the 100 metres race following his gold medal performance in the 1996 Olympic Games. He was the first Canadian to legally break the 10-second barrier in the 100 m...
from Canada, and 1996 Olympic 200 m and 400 m champion Michael Johnson
Michael Johnson (athlete)
Michael Duane Johnson is a retired American sprinter. He won four Olympic gold medals and eight world championship gold medals. Johnson currently holds the world and Olympic records in the 400 m and 4 x 400 meters relay. He formerly held the world and Olympic record in the 200 m, and the world...
, from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Background
The unofficial title of "world's fastest man" typically goes to the Olympic 100 m champion.In 1996, Bob Costas of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, Bill Gairdner, and others, pointed out that Johnson's gold-medal performance in the 200 m (19.32 seconds) was faster than Bailey's 100 m performance (9.84 seconds) in that 19.32 divided by two is 9.66. However, the 200 m time almost always yields a "faster" average speed than a 100 m race time since the initial slow speed at the start is spread out over the longer distance. In other words, the second 100 m is run with a "flying start", without the slow acceleration phase of the first 100 m and without the greater than 0.10 s reaction time of the start. In fact, each 200 m gold medalist from 1968, when fully electronic timing was introduced, to 1996 had a "faster" average speed at the Olympics, save one, yet there had been no controversy over the title of "world's fastest man" previously.
In 1997, Johnson began performing television promotions in which he billed himself as "the world's fastest man." Bailey initially refused to challenge, stating that "the world's fastest man was decided in Atlanta". After verbal sparring between the pair, a made-for-TV, 150-metre race at Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's SkyDome was scheduled.
The race
The 150 m distance consisted of 75 m of curved track and a 75 m straight, a configuration that was unique to this unsanctioned event. Bailey revealed before the race his surprise at the configuration; nevertheless he opted to run anyway. The runners were positioned with Bailey running in the track's 3rd lane with Johnson in the next outer lane (4th lane).The race was billed as a competition for the title of "World's Fastest Man", but it failed to live up to expectations when Johnson (well behind Bailey at the time), pulled up lame at the 110-metre mark claiming to have injured his quadriceps
Quadriceps muscle
The quadriceps femoris , also called simply the quadriceps, quadriceps extensor, quads, is a large muscle group that includes the four prevailing muscles on the front of the thigh...
. Johnson appeared to grab his quadriceps and then slowed to a stop before squatting on the track in distress.
Towards the end of the race, Bailey looked back at Johnson and waved for him to "come on" believing he had simply quit the race. Bailey finished with a time of 14.99 seconds and walked away with the $1.5 million prize. Johnson himself received $500,000.
Due to the injury, Johnson was unable to compete in the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships is an annual track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport...
and could thus not qualify for the IAAF World Championships
IAAF World Championships
IAAF World Championships may refer to any of the World Championship events organized by the IAAF:* IAAF World Championships in Athletics* IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics* IAAF World Cross Country Championships...
later that year. The IAAF invented a new policy of giving a "bye" to the defending champions essentially to allow Johnson to compete (thus not losing the star appeal of the double world record holder). Johnson successfully defended his world championship in the 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
in 1997.