Carl Lewis

Every holder of a world record enters the Olympics knowing that if he does not win, he will forever hear a refrain that runs something like, "You lost? Wait a minute. You've run or jumped better than anyone, ever....

Michael Johnson flew around the track, shoulders thrown so far back that his race seemed a miracle more of posture than of speed. There was plenty of that, though, and by the time his pretty gold shoes had come to...

In the Centennial Games, athletic competition survived a tragic interlude

Just when it seemed his wondrous story had ended, Carl Lewis added a thrilling final chapter