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Michael Johnson: an Olympic champ turned teacher and motivator(AP)Updated: 2007-07-10 15:18
Johnson's parents didn't push him into athletics _ he tried out for the high school team only at a friend's insistence. Johnson blossomed at Baylor University, then won gold medals in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympics. He still holds world records at 200 and 400 meters. Since retiring, Johnson has done television commentary and trained college players for the NFL draft. Johnson has also trained Chinese runners and expects other top athletes such as Olympic 400-meter champion Jeremy Wariner, who trains in nearby Waco, to drop by his new center. But mostly, he said, he'll work with youngsters 12 to 18, and many of them have no chance to become stars. "We're not necessarily looking for the next great athlete. We're helping them to be better at whatever level they are," Johnson said. "How fast can you make him? Well, it depends on how bad he is when you get him. I can't promise anyone we can make them great, but we can make them greater." If the Dallas center is a success, Johnson hopes to build others around the country. But that would be getting ahead of the game. The indoor facility can handle 36 athletes at a time, but only 22 had signed up in the first month. Johnson expects things to pick up in the fall and next year. He declined to say how many customers he needs to stay in business. "My focus is on building a great brand built on quality, and everything else will take care of itself," he said. "They're going to come."
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