ROME, Reuter: Ben Johnson dethroned Carl Lewis as king of sprint in the race of lifetime at the world championships.

The Canadian with the build of a prizefighter pulverized the world 100 meters record in 9.83 seconds and turned the Golden World of the American to the silver ‘of second best.

I was a phenomenal second. best equaling at sea level a world record set four years ago by Calvin Smith with the help of the rarefied air of high altitude at Colorado Springs

But Johnson wrecked all past standards by carving fully one tenth of a second from ‘record which had been chipped away by a mere five hundredths in the past 10 years.

If anyone is going to beat my record they have to be better than me. The first 50 meters have got to be awesome, Johnson said.

The first 10 meters were so good. Apparently got outs fast I almost ended up in Carlos’s lane, I was at top speed at 45 meters and I Kept going.

The Jamaican born powerhouse had threatened great things in Rome with three ‘sub 10. second times this month. But defending champion Lewis caught the eye more the early rounds, twice lowering his championship record by 0.02 seconds.

Lewis had achieved a golden treble at the Inaugural 1983 Helsinki World Championships and went one better at the 1984 Los ‘Angeles Olympics in the course of which the beat Johnson into third place in the 100, and he looked ready to rise to the big. Occasion again. He did  but Johnson, a more introverted personality than the flamboyant American, just bided his time before the final and trumped the sprinting ace.

I didn’t want to was energy so I saved it all for the final, He was fast in the heats, trying to psych me, kept my cool and got ready for the final The commonwealth and ‘world indoor champion said.

Johnson and coach Charlie Francis had, predicted 9.85 was within their compass. 1 knew I was ready to peak. I knew I was ready to go, Johnson sad.

For all Lewis’s golden aura, Johnson knew the pressure was on him because he had won their four previous meetings, but he focused his mind on One recent superlative run and that put things in place.

Lewis got away well but was always in the crop haired Canadian’s slip-stream and not even his famed smooth acceleration could carry him past his rival.

I do not believe we are faster than anyone has ever run befor, Lewis sad, admitting he would not have imagined the world record would shed a tenth of second.

Before the ace f would have sad, ”NO”, now believe it. I am surprised but Tam not totally devastated. Anything is possible. It had a lot of hype, but it was a great race, he said

Lewis clapped his hands in apparent frustration after the finish but then ran off to shake hands with Johnson, though he had to hurry to catch him on his victory lap.

“Johnson, accused in the past of ignoring. the America’s gesture 10 shake hands, apparently missed it again at first I didn’t see him, He was behind my back, he said.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 4, 1987