It may have taken 10 days shy of 14 years for it to happen but at the Stade Charlety last Saturday a man finally ran the 100m faster than Ben Johnson’s stanazolol-charged 9,79sec at the Seoul Olympics.
In the absence of a positive dope test it is also reasonable to assume that Tim Montgomery’s world record run came with the help of nothing more potent than a good night’s sleep and a few encouraging words from his new girlfriend.
Sadly, even though Montgomery’s new mark enables the significance of Johnson’s old figures to fade further into oblivion, the legacy of the Canadian’s misdemeanours remains as powerful as ever.
One of the first suggestions made to Montgomery at his post-race press conference was that in this cynical age all world record performances provoke more suspicion than they inspire admiration.
It was at this point that Montgomery’s new belle piped up: ”It is unfortunate that you have such an incredible performance and you have someone who will immediately suspect something,” she said. ”We are all here to celebrate something outstanding and we are all quite aware that we are proponents of a drug-free sport, so let’s keep it that.”
A bit naive perhaps? It has to be when you consider not only the history of the men’s 100m but also that the last man to break a world record, the Moroccan steeplechaser Brahim Boulami, duly did a Johnson and failed the post-race drugs test.
Montomery’s girlfriend is, of course, the world’s greatest woman sprinter, Marion Jones. And, by the way, that press conference in Paris wasn’t the first time she’s had to share a stage with the love of her life and defend rumours or accusations of drug taking. Two years ago to the month it was in Sydney when, on the eve of the track and field competition at the Olympic Games, news broke of her then-husband CJ Hunter’s phalanx of doping failures.
Then too there was a stout performance from Jones though those in the gallery thought it did little for the sprinter’s credibility when, in the face of overwhelming evidence, she protested the innocence of a man with whom she shared not only the same bed but also bathroom cabinet.
Eight months later Jones and Hunter were separated and most aficionados would now agree that her most recent choice of partner is a rather more prudent one. In an event dominated by pugilistic-types with mouths that tick over much faster than their brains Montgomery stands alone. He’s not as physically impressive as a Carl Lewis, Linford Christie, Maurice Greene or, dare it be said, Johnson.
You can add to that a baby face that makes him look more like 17 than his true 27 years. In conversation he’s also humble, understated and intelligent. All in all, he’s the complete antithesis of what the modern day sprinter is supposed to be.
On Saturday, Montgomery was also apparently quite mystified by the Johnson talk. When asked if he was in front of a television when Johnson set the world record in Seoul, he replied, ”No, the first track meet I ever watched was in 1993.”
According to those in the room you could be forgiven for thinking that Montgomery didn’t even understand the line of questioning. In those days Montgomery was more of a gridiron football fan. Now, though, he’s a full-time athlete and member of the power-ful sprint squad based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The coach is former Jamaican sprinter Trevor Graham and his main training partner is Jones.
Even though the pair have been close for some time the relationship only blossomed into romance a few weeks ago. Both seem to be benefiting. Says the pair’s manager, Charlie Wells, ”If your spouse is successful in your job then you want to be successful in yours. That’s how it works.”