Carl Lewis's illustrious career, particularly in the mid-to-late 1980s, was significantly shaped by his intense rivalry with Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson. This period, while showcasing some of the most thrilling races in track and field history, was also marred by profound controversy surrounding performance-enhancing drugs. Lewis, initially a dominant force, found his supremacy challenged, leading to a public stance against doping that would redefine
his image and the sport itself. The events surrounding their clashes, especially at the 1987 World Championships and the 1988 Summer Olympics, brought the issue of drug use in athletics to the forefront.
The Rise of a Rival and the 1987 World Championships
After the 1984 Olympics, while Lewis continued his long jump dominance, his grip on the 100 meters sprint began to loosen. Mel Lattany briefly surpassed his low-altitude record, but the most significant challenge came from Ben Johnson, the 1984 Olympic bronze medalist. Johnson started to consistently beat Lewis, notably at the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow, where he set a new low-altitude record of 9.95 seconds. By the end of 1986, Johnson was ranked number one, and Lewis had slipped to third in the 100 meters, also losing his top long jump ranking to Robert Emmiyan.
The 1987 World Championships in Rome became a pivotal moment. Lewis opted out of the 200 meters to focus on the long jump, where he faced Emmiyan, who had recently jumped 8.86 meters at altitude, just 4 cm short of Bob Beamon's record. Lewis won the long jump with 8.67 meters, clearing 8.60 meters four times. However, the 100 meters final was the most dramatic event. Johnson, having run under 10.00 seconds three times that year, stunned observers with a new world record of 9.83 seconds. Lewis, finishing second with 9.93 seconds, had tied the existing world record but was still decisively beaten.
Accusations and the Call for Clean Sport
In the immediate aftermath of his defeat to Johnson, Lewis began to voice suspicions about drug use in the sport. He initially claimed Johnson had false-started and alluded to a stomach virus affecting his performance. More significantly, he stated, without naming names, "There are a lot of people coming out of nowhere. I don't think they are doing it without drugs." He provocatively added, "I could run 9.8 or faster in the 100 if I could jump into drugs right away." This marked the beginning of Lewis's public campaign for track and field to eliminate performance-enhancing drugs.
Lewis's detractors pointed out that the problem of doping had existed in the sport for many years and that his advocacy only became prominent after he was defeated. Johnson's response to Lewis's accusations was direct: "When Carl Lewis was winning everything, I never said a word against him. And when the next guy comes along and beats me, I won't complain about that either." This exchange set the stage for an even more intense showdown at the upcoming 1988 Summer Olympics, with the specter of doping hanging heavily over their rivalry.
The 1988 Olympics and the Aftermath
The 100 meters final at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul became one of the most infamous sports stories of the century. Johnson won in a new world record time of 9.79 seconds, with Lewis setting a new American record of 9.92 seconds in second place. However, just three days later, Johnson tested positive for steroids, leading to his disqualification and the stripping of his gold medal. Lewis was subsequently awarded the gold medal and credited with a new Olympic record.
In the fallout, a Canadian inquiry revealed Johnson's long-term steroid use. The IAAF stripped Johnson of his 1987 World Championships record and gold medal, declaring Lewis the 1987 100 meters World Champion. Lewis was also deemed the world record holder for his 9.92-second performance in Seoul. Although his 9.93-second performance in 1987 and another at the 1988 Zurich meet were considered to have tied the "true" world record, they were never officially ratified as such. From January 1, 1990, Lewis was officially recognized as the 100 meters world record holder, though this record was later broken by Leroy Burrell in 1991. This period cemented Lewis's legacy not just as an athlete, but as a vocal figure in the fight against doping in sports.
