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Backpedaling Johnson says he may run the 200 meters
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- For a world-champion sprinter, Michael Johnson is backpedaling pretty fast. Johnson, who bowed out of the U.S. Olympic trials last week with a severe leg cramp during the 200-meter final, is backing off statements he would never run the distance again. His coach, Clyde Hart, also chimed in, saying Johnson was probably finished with the race this year but could run it in years to come. On Monday, Johnson said on NBColympics.com he was finished with the event in which he owns the Olympic goal medal and world record at 19.32 seconds. "There's nothing for me to gain from it, so no more 200s for me," Johnson said. "There's no reason for me to run 200s." On Tuesday, however, USA Today quoted Johnson as backtracking on his earlier statement. "I'm not saying I've totally retired from the 200," Johnson said. Attempts to contact Johnson were unsuccessful. Calls to his publicist's office by The Associated Press were not immediately returned. But his coach said Johnson could be back in the 200 in years to come. "I feel confident we will not run any more 200s this year but forever is a long time," Hart said. Hart said Johnson's original declaration of quitting the 200 was likely the result of frustration over the publicity surrounding his ballyhooed matchup with Maurice Greene and the failure to qualify in the event for the Sydney Olympics. "I think it was a heat-of-the-moment thing. The trash talking -- he just doesn't like that," said Hart, noting that the 32-year-old Johnson is still in prime racing form in the 200. "He's run more sub-20s this year than he has in his lifetime." Even if Johnson wanted to run a 200 again this year, he has no reason to, Hart said. Johnson qualified to defend his 400-meter title at the Olympics in September and will concentrate on that distance, the coach said. "The 200 is not something we've got to do to run 400s," Hart said. The coach said Johnson will likely return to training for the Olympics next week. He trains with Hart at Baylor University in Waco. Johnson said on the web site he is looking forward to defending the 400 gold medal at the Sydney Games. "I think Sydney will be a lot more fun now," he said. "Not because there's nobody in the 400 that can run with me. It'll be a lot more fun because I don't have to be in the center of some kind of matchup or showdown that turns silly. "I like matchups and showdowns, but when they turn silly, like they always seem to do, I don't want anything to do with that. That's not fun."
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