Among the purists, Michael Johnson and his particular running style had been considered an oddity for many years. But success proved him right: he holds the world record in 200 and 400 metres and he is a double Olympic champion in both disciplines.

He even became the first ever to take gold in Atlanta in both distances. Running is his profession and he is a professional to the finger tips, or rather toe tips. He controls every aspect of his job, even his emotions, and has become a mystery to the sporting world. Particularly since his stunning, record-breaking 200m race in Atlanta – nobody, not even Johnson himself ever came close to the lightning speed time of 19:32’…