On this date in 1988, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson clocked a time of 9.79 seconds in the 100-meter race, earning a gold medal at the Summer Olympics held in Seoul, South Korea. However, Johnson’s victory was short-lived: just three days later, he tested positive for steroids and lost his medal.
As a teenager, Ben Johnson migrated from Jamaica with his family to the suburbs of Toronto, where he quickly began sprinting for the Scarborough Optimists track and field club under the guidance of Canadian national track and field coach Charlie Francis. In 1984, he qualified for the Los Angeles Summer Olympics, finishing third in the 100 meters with a time of 10.22 seconds, falling short by less than three-tenths of a second behind American gold medalist Carl Lewis. After leaving Seoul, Johnson was determined to return to the Olympics in 1988, this time aiming for gold.
At the 1987 World Championships in Rome, Johnson achieved a remarkable 100-meter sprint in 9.83 seconds, setting a new world record and signaling to the world that he was a serious contender. Despite Carl Lewis posting a personal best of 9.93 seconds, he was compelled to settle for second place. Just as Johnson appeared to be hitting his stride, however, he suffered a hamstring injury. Following a re-injury in May 1988, many believed he would not return to full strength for the Seoul Olympics. In the meantime, Carl Lewis registered the fastest 100 meters to that point at the American Olympic Trials—a wind-aided 9.78 seconds—reclaiming his status as the favorite for the upcoming Olympics.
On September 24, during the 100-meter final, Johnson readied himself in lane 6, while Lewis occupied lane 3 and British contender Linford Christie lined up in lane 4. With an explosive start, Johnson took off, and despite Lewis’s reputation for strong finishing, as he set an American record—a non-wind-aided 9.92 seconds—he was unable to close the gap and finished several strides behind Johnson. After the event, Johnson told reporters, ”The important thing was to beat Carl. That was my main goal, not the world record. Just to beat Carl Lewis to win.”
On September 27, Johnson’s steroids test returned positive. He disputed the claim of willful usage, arguing instead that an herbal drink he consumed before the race had been tampered with. The International Olympic Committee rejected his defense, and as a result, Johnson was stripped of the gold medal, which was subsequently awarded to Carl Lewis.
