Sprint king Johnson spreads message of hope to stroke survivors

The “Olympic mindset” that took Michael Johnson to four Games golds had aided his recovery, while his years of charity work helped put his plight in perspective.

Michael Johnson hung up his boots after winning 400m gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

US sprint champion Michael Johnson said he hoped to inspire fellow sufferers as he declared himself fully recovered from a stroke that paralysed him down one side last year.

Johnson told AFP he was now “back to normal” after the stroke in September which left the former 200m and 400m world-record holder unable to walk.

The 51-year-old said the “Olympic mindset” that took him to four Games golds had aided his recovery, while his years of charity work helped put his plight in perspective.

“Fortunately I was able to sort of get back into my Olympic mindset and really set my mind to the challenge of getting up and walking again and getting back the mobility that I previously had,” he said.

“I was fortunate to have an athletic background that allowed me to really be able to commit the type of focus that it takes to do that work every day, and the patience as well to suffer through those minute, marginal improvements.

“I'm fortunate to be back to normal now and just to spread the message to other people about... how to get yourself back to quality of life after an event like that.”

'A stroke makes you re-evaluate'

Since hanging up his boots after winning 400m gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Johnson has been an ambassador for Laureus Sport for Good, a charity funding junior sports development programs for underprivileged communities.

The sprinter said the nearly two decades of philanthropic work had allowed him to come to terms with having a stroke, and take the gruelling months of rehabilitation in stride.

“It's sort of cliche to say that some sort of event like a stroke makes you re-evaluate. I think about the work that I've been privileged to do in the 17 years since I retired up until I had my stroke, that's rewarding enough,” he said.

“I recognise the privilege that I have to be able to do that work and the impact that we're making all along, and the sort of satisfaction I had with life leading up to the stroke that allowed me to not be as affected by the stroke.”

Johnson is in Hong Kong for this week's rugby sevens tournament, which has adopted Laureus as its official charity partner.