The shoes Michael Johnson will wear in the 400 meters at the 2000 Sydney Olympics will bring new, literal meaning to the phrase "golden spikes."
Johnson's new spikes, which he unveiled Tuesday at the Nike Center in Sydney, include droplets of 24-karat gold in the shoe's upper. The Nike design team of Tobie Hatfield and Kevin Hoffer also made adjustments to the shoe's support and spike plate to improve upon the golden spikes Johnson wore at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where he won the 200- and 400-meter races.
"I'm very pleased with the shoe, as you can tell by the smile on my face," Johnson said. "It was very difficult trying to figure out a way to make the shoe (more impressive than his Atlanta shoe). When they said, 'We've got something with 24-karat gold,' I was on board right away." Johnson said he is fully recovered from the hamstring injury that prevented him from finishing the 200 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials in July. Johnson will compete in the 400 and 4x400 relay in Sydney, and he said he feels ready for a big performance — possibly a sub-43-second run.
"I always perform best in championship events," said Johnson, who has the world record at 43.18, set at the World Championships in Seville last year. "I think I'm in shape to do it right now. I'd like to have my 400 record be what my 200 record means — for it to be so far out there."
Johnson ran 19.32 seconds in the 200 meters at the 1996 Olympics. Though he won't run the 200 meters in Sydney, Johnson has the chance to be the first man ever to repeat as Olympic champion at 400 meters. "I've always been motivated by making history," he said. "Hopefully that's something I'll be able to add to the things I've been able to do."