I'm starting this thread as a tribute to Allen Johnson.
I never knew the guy personally, but he was one of my favorite athletes on the circuit.
He handled himself with class and I'll miss him. I was glad to see the BBC gave him some face time on their telecast today.
"It's just come to the point where my body can't take it any more. Maybe I can coach some hurdlers or some sprinters... give something back. I'm going to miss it, I really am, but it was fun."
Ditto.
Always enjoyed watching AJ compete.
definitely someone that I always pulled for. Thanks for the memories Allen!
Always loved watching him race. Plus, we'd see him around the track at USC with Coach Frye every once in a while. Class act, thanks Allen.
He has been one of my favorite track athletes. When in top form he was always the guy in championship races. He carried on the tradition set by guys like Nehemiah, Foster, Kingdom who showed up to race whoever was there, no ducking, just straight up racing. To me the high hurdlers has always been one of the more dramatic races in championship meets, anything could happen. For Allen Johnson to be as consistent as he was over such a long period of time was really incredible.
I am sitting here looking at my bulletin board and there is a ticket from Edmonton and it is signed by Allen Johnson and his time of 12.92. Allen is a very nice young man. I used a video he once made to teach hurdling to my athletes. Allen will be a great coach. I have no doubt about it. Allen will also find that there is a lot of joy in being a coach.
He is very classy. He had a nice, long career.
5 years ago I went to the USATF Level I coaching class and the instructor used an Allen Johnson race video as the example for perfect hurdling.
No textbook, no classroom staged example, just that dude running a race. We broke it down and learned from it for hours. I am a long distance guy, so at the time I did not know much about the event and it was eye opening. Since that time I have gone into biomechanics/physiology for school and have really loved watching the event now because of him. The guy is a freak of nature physically and mentally (Top of his game in 1996 then still getting a silver indoors in 2008....amazing). A plus was how he seemed to just love competing for the pure spirit of competing. We do not get to see many athletes like Allen Johnson in a life time.
I've known Allen for several years now and he is the epitome of class. He's one of the greatest of all-time, across all the events, and has been a fantastic ambassador for our sport. I hope he continues his involvement in the sport, should he choose to do so.
I think it's a testament to the impact Johnson has had that on a distance site, he gets quote of the day on the same day as a 1:41.51 800m. Abig thumbs up to letsrun for that. As a Brit, I remember his battles with colin Jackson and despite my Britishness always rated Johnson above Jackson, although both were legends, and between them were up there for 20 years, from Jackson in Seoul to Johson at World Indoors in 2008.
I know that he was very generous to his old high school a number of years ago. He donated what I believe was fifty thousand dollars to help create a state-of-the-art track there.
Thank you Allen Johnson for that , and the many years of enjoyment you've given us T & F fans !
Kudos to Allen Johnson. As others have said, he's one of the classiest guys on the circuit. Someone that gives you hope that there are clean athletes out there succeeding. Great competitor, great athlete and seemingly great person.
It seems that the first word that comes to mind for most of us when we hear his name is "class." Whatever that means, he has it. Amongst all of the preening, whiny, self-important, loud-mouthed chest-thumpers who dominate American sports, he has been an unassuming superstar.
Didn't know him (which I did) but when I did see him around he ALWAYS handled himself with yes "class". I saw him giving autographs and not stopping until everyone got one. He made each person feel special not just sign it and run. He was/is the man!!!!!