Olympic legend Michael Johnson has opened up on the toughest battle of his career after suffering a heart attack.
Johnson, 55, is regarded as one of the finest sprinters in history and won four gold medals in three consecutive Olympic Games, setting the world record in the 200m with a time of 19:32, which was later broken by Usain Bolt.
But in 2018, doctors feared he may never walk again after he suffered a stroke that impacted his complete left side, losing all mobility and co-ordination.
The American, who is now part of BBC's athletics coverage, made an incredible recovery though and within two months he claims he was almost back to normal.
"I had a huge advantage after a stroke, having been an athlete - that recovery, and trying to get my strength back, to walk and run again," he told Performance People.
"The first day I could leave my bed, I had a walker and the therapist took me around the hospital floor to get me started. While I was doing it, he was coaching me, teaching me how to walk.
"There was no difference to coach explaining to me on the track every day. 'Michael, you need to do this'. I looked back and I realised I had probably walked 200m in 20 minutes not 20 seconds. But I wasn't discouraged.
"They didn't know if I would walk again but I told my wife I was going to make a full recovery and faster than anyone else had."
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EMPICS Sports Photo Agency)Johnson is now able to continue his hobbies, including cycling, rowing and of course running, and admits he had to dig deep to overcome the setback.
"You spend a lot of time looking at yourself in the mirror for some symmetry. What I would see some days was a shell of a person I used to be," he added.
"Prior to my stroke, I would avoid being vulnerable at all costs and avoid being dependent on anyone else. I wanted to be the one everyone else could depend on
"But two months after my recovery, I was running again. It was because of learning those skills as an Olympic athlete, to be your best."
