Legend Johnson calls time

Johnson holds world record at both 200m and 400m

Olympic 400m champion Michael Johnson has confirmed he will bow out of athletics at the end of 2001.

The 33-year-old American, who won 14 gold medals in major championships, said he was already planning a career away from the track.

"This year will be my last, I'm tired," said Johnson, who has decided not to compete in the world championships in Edmonton.

Perhaps I'll visit the UK in my farewell year but it depends on how things go

  Michael Johnson

"I've already begun making the transition. I'm doing TV for NBC and I'll be working on both the winter and summer Olympics. I'll be doing lots of other things as well."

Johnson is in London for the World Sports Awards, which are being held at the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday.

He hasn't ruled out another trip to these shores later in the year either, to give his British fans a proper send-off on the track.

"Perhaps I'll visit the UK in my farewell year but it depends on how things go," he said.

"I'm figuring out how best to negotiate my season."

Johnson took his gold medal tally in major championships to 14 by anchoring the US 4x400m relay team to victory in the final track event of the Sydney Games.

Johnson was famed for his golden spikes

In a career packed full of memorable moments, he has set six world records and won five Olympic and nine World Championship gold medals.

His first Olympic gold came in the 4x400m relay in Barcelona in 1992.

In Atlanta four years later, he became the first male runner to win both the 200m and 400m at the same Olympics.

Then, at the Sydney Games, he became the first man ever to defend the Olympic 400m.

He had planned to defend both sprint titles in Sydney, but pulled up injured in his heavily hyped 200m showdown with Maurice Greene at the US trials.

At the Worlds, Johnson has won six individual golds in the 200m and 400m, and three relays.

He also holds the world records in the 200m (19.32 secs) and 400m (43.18 secs).