Ben Johnson

CANCANMen
Birth dateDec 30, 1961
BirthplaceTrelawny Parish, Jamaica
Height1.77 m
Weight75 kg

Benjamin Sinclair Johnson, (born December 30, 1961) is a Canadian former sprinter. During the 1987–88 season he held the title of the world's fastest man, breaking both the 100 m and the 60 m indoor World Records.

He won the 100 metres at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics; and at the 1988 Summer Olympics, but was disqualified for doping and stripped of the gold medals. He was the first to beat the 9.9 and 9.8 seconds barrier.

He won two bronze medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics, as well as gold medals at the 1985 World Indoor Championships, 1986 Goodwill Games and 1986 Commonwealth Games. He was trained by Charlie Francis.

Key facts
55 Metres
6.05
100 m
9.95
1992 season best
6.57
Mar 19, 1992 · Windsor (CAN) (i)
Medals
Olympic Games: 2 bronze
Age
64 years old

As of Sep 12, 2026: 55 Metres 6.05, 100 m 9.95 (#117 all-time), 1992 season best 6.57 (Mar 19, 1992, Windsor (CAN) (i)) · Olympic Games: 2 bronze · 64 years old

PB

Personal bests

* Wind-assisted (> 2.0 m/s)

🏅

Medals

🥇🥈🥉Total
Olympic Games--22

Performance Charts

Season bests

SeasonDisciplineResultWindDateTrendCompetitions
1992
60m
6.57-Mar 19, 1992
Windsor (CAN) (i)
1992
100m
10.16+1.3Jun 20, 1992
Montréal (CAN)
1992
4x100m
39.34-Aug 7, 1992
Estadio Olímpico, Barcelona (ESP)
1991
60m
6.3h-Feb 24, 1991
Sindelfingen (GER) (i)
1991
100m
10.31+0.8Jul 5, 1991
Linz (AUT)
1991
4x100m
38.76-Aug 31, 1991
IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Tokyo
1986
55m
6.05-Feb 14, 1986-East Rutherford, NJ (USA) (i)
1986
60m
6.50-Jan 15, 1986
Edmonton (CAN) (i)
1986
100m
9.95+0.8Jul 9, 1986
Moskva (URS)
1986
200m
20.64+2.2Jul 31, 1986
Edinburgh Commonwealth Games
1985
60m
6.55-Jan 13, 1985
Kobe (JPN) (i)
1985
100m
10.00+1.7Jul 17, 1985
Bruce Stadium, Canberra (AUS)
1985
200m
20.41+1.5Aug 4, 1985
Ottawa (CAN)
1985
4x100m
38.31-Oct 5, 1985
Canberra IAAF World Cup
1984
50Metres
5.69-Feb 25, 1984-Toronto (CAN) (i)
1984
100m
10.01+5.5Jun 30, 1984
Zürich (SUI)
1984
4x100m
38.70-Aug 11, 1984
Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA (USA)
1983
100m
10.19+0.8Jul 26, 1983
Provo, UT (USA)
1983
200m
21.00+0.2Jul 19, 1983
Air Force Academy (USA)
1982
100m
10.05+5.9Oct 4, 1982
Brisbane (AUS)
1982
200m
20.37+4.0Jul 21, 1982
Air Force Academy (USA)
1981
100m
10.25+0.0Aug 14, 1981
Ciudad Bolívar (VEN)
1981
4x100m
39.13-Sep 5, 1981
Roma IAAF World Cup

1992

7 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
60m
6.57-Dec 19Windsor (i)
4x100m
39.34-Aug 7The XXV Olympic Games, Estadio Olímpico, Barcelona
100m
10.70-1.3Aug 1The XXV Olympic Games, Estadio Olímpico, Barcelona
100m
10.30+0.0Jul 31The XXV Olympic Games, Estadio Olímpico, Barcelona
100m
10.55-2.0Jul 31The XXV Olympic Games, Estadio Olímpico, Barcelona
100m
10.16+1.3Jun 20Montreal, Montréal
60m
6.57-Mar 19Windsor (i)

1991

9 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
4x100m
39.51-Sep 1IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Tokyo
4x100m
38.76-Aug 31IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Tokyo
100m
10.31+0.8Jul 5Linz Gugl, Linz
60m
6.63-Mar 8IAAF World Indoor Championships
60m
6.61-Mar 8IAAF World Indoor Championships
60m
6.75-Mar 8IAAF World Indoor Championships
60m
6.58-Mar 3Sindelfingen (i)
60m
6.61-Feb 26Budapest Tricotext Cup, Budapest (i)
60m
6.3HT-Feb 24Karlsruhe IHM, Karlsruhe (i)

1987

3 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
4x100m
DQ-Aug 29IAAF World Championships
100m
DQ-0.3Aug 29IAAF World Championships
60m
DQ-Mar 6IAAF World Indoor Championships, Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, IN (i)

1986

27 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
100m
10.22-Sep 10Roma Golden Gala, Stadio Olimpico, Roma
100m
10.02+1.1Sep 10Roma Golden Gala, Stadio Olimpico, Roma
100m
10.06+0.3Sep 5Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme, Bruxelles
100m
10.25-0.1Sep 5Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme, Bruxelles
100m
10.19-0.4Sep 2Athletissima Lausanne, Lausanne
100m
10.03-0.7Aug 13Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich
200m
20.64+2.2Jul 31Edinburgh Commonwealth Games
200m
20.84+1.6Jul 28Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, Edinburgh
200m
21.28+1.6Jul 28Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, Edinburgh
100m
10.07+1.6Jul 27Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, Edinburgh
100m
10.15+3.0Jul 26Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, Edinburgh
100m
10.18+3.2Jul 26Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, Edinburgh
100m
10.06+1.8Jul 18Birmingham
100m
9.95+0.8Jul 9Moskva Goodwill Games, Moskva
200m
20.78+1.0Jun 22Ottawa NC, Ottawa
100m
10.07+1.6Jun 21Ottawa NC, Ottawa
100m
10.19+1.6Jun 21Ottawa NC, Ottawa
100m
10.12-1.8Jun 10Burnaby
100m
10.01+0.9May 31San José Bruce Jenner's Bud Light Classic, San José
100m
10.09+0.2May 24Provo, UT
100m
10.06+0.1May 24Provo, UT
60m
6.56-Mar 8Tokyo (i)
55m
6.11-Feb 28New York, NY (i)
60m
6.50-Feb 22Edmonton (i)
55m
6.05-Feb 14New York, NY (i)
55m
6.05-Feb 8East Rutherford, NJ (i)
60m
6.50-Jan 15Osaka (i)

1985

4 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
4x100m
38.31-Oct 5Canberra IAAF World Cup
100m
10.00-0.4Oct 4Canberra IAAF World Cup, Bruce Stadium, Canberra
100m
10.04+1.4Sep 20San Juan
100m
10.11+1.6Aug 21Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich
Showing 1 - 50 of 88

Honours

4

IAAF World Indoor Championships

60 Metres

1991
8

IAAF World Championships

4x100 Metres Relay

1991
🥇

Edinburgh Commonwealth Games

100 Metres

1986
🥉

Edinburgh Commonwealth Games

200 Metres

1986
🥇

Edinburgh Commonwealth Games

100 Metres

1986
🥉

Edinburgh Commonwealth Games

200 Metres

1986
🥈

Canberra IAAF World Cup

4x100 Metres Relay

1985
🥇

Canberra IAAF World Cup

100 Metres

1985
🥉

The XXIII Olympic Games

4x100 Metres Relay

1984
🥉

The XXIII Olympic Games

100 Metres

1984
5

Roma IAAF World Cup

4x100 Metres Relay

1981
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Ben Johnson's 55 Metres personal best?

Ben Johnson's 55 Metres personal best is 6.05, set on Feb 8, 1986 in East Rutherford, NJ (USA) (i).

Which events does Ben Johnson compete in?

Ben Johnson competes in the 55 Metres and 100 m.

How did Ben Johnson perform in 1992?

1992 season best: 6.57, set on Mar 19, 1992 in Windsor (CAN) (i).

How many medals has Ben Johnson won?

Ben Johnson has won 2 Olympic Games medals.