Athletics at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games:

[Michael Johnson] had been favored to win in 1992 until a stomach virus weakened him and he lost in the semi-final. By 1996, he was a prohibitive favorite, not having lost since 1994 over 200 metres, and had won the 1995 World Championships. He was looking for a 200/400 double in Atlanta. At the US Olympic Trials, Johnson finally bettered [Pietro Mennea]'s world record from 1979, running 19.66 to make the US team. His challengers were felt to be Namibian [Frankie Fredericks], the 1992 silver medalist, and Trinidad's [Ato Boldon]. Only two weeks before the Olympics, Fredericks had beaten Johnson, snapping his win streak at the distance. By the night of the 200 final Johnson had already won his 400 gold medal. Coming off the curve, there was little to choose between the three favorites, Johnson having a slight lead. But then he found another gear, finishing in 19.32, a time that seemed almost like a mistake. Fredericks held on for his second consecutive silver medal with Boldon winning bronze. Boldon later said, )19.32. That's not a time. It sounds like my dad's birthday.)