Ben Johnson Biography

Benjamin Sinclair "Ben" Johnson is a Jamaican-born Canadian former sprinter who set consecutive 100 meters world records at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics and the1988 Summer Olympics. But his glory did not last long and he fell to disgrace soon after winning the Olympic gold in the 100 meters race after he failed a doping test and was stripped of his Olympic title. The 100 meters final at the1988 Summer Olympics would go down in history as one of the most controversial events at the Olympics as many of the participants were found to have doped during the race. Ben Johnson, who immigrated to Canada from Jamaica as a 14-year-old established himself as a promising sprinter under the training of coach Charlie Francis, a sprint champion himself who was also Canada's national sprint coach for nine years. The young man tasted his first international success when he won two silver medals at the 1982 Commonwealth Games and proceeded to win the bronze medal in the 100 meters final at the 1984 Summer Olympics. His ambitions were set high for the 1988 Summer Olympics and he won the 100 meters final beating his American rival Carl Lewis, becoming an internationally-recognized track superstar. After just three days he fell to disgrace after it was revealed that he had doped during the big event.