Patrick Johnson is looking for
gold at Melbourne 2006.
It is unusual for an athlete of Patrick Johnson’s stature and ability to launch a self imposed media ban, but that is exactly what he has done to avoid becoming involved with anything but the events in which he competes at the Games.
Whilst he was suffering from a virus last week and not wanting to risk a repeat dose, he has chosen to remain in Canberra and not join his Australian team-mates at the Opening Ceremony.
He has not officially told anyone of his travel plans and he fully intends to keep up this self imposed ban until his events have been run and won.
Johnson will run on Super Sunday in the heats of the 100m and will continue his programme in the 200m as well as the 4x100m relay.
Whilst Johnson has spoken openly of his personal ambitions in the lead up to the Games his manager Clive Stevens said that it was time for Patrick’s performances to speak for themselves.
“In this business everyone has their own opinion and they’re perfectly entitled to have them, but at the end of the day it is Johnson out there doing his damnedest for himself and for Australia,” said Stevens.
“It is certainly his call and that’s the way he sees it and that is the way it needs to be.”
Patrick Johnson ran a 9.93 second 100m in Japan in 2003, and was a credible 6th at the world titles in Finland in 2005, but in the man’s own words, “the best is yet to come.”
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