New Delhi: Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra seems to have a new fan and it is none other than US sprinter and four-time Olympic gold winner Michael Johnson.
Johnson recently took to Twitter to share a video of Chopra throwing a short-putt ball and said he was a “javelin thrower with the movement of a sprinter/jumper”.
He’s a javelin thrower! Olympic champion javelin thrower, but a javelin thrower. With sprinter/jumper movement! Video: @beau_throws pic.twitter.com/4aCgxFfz2z
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) January 4, 2023
Johnson, now 55, was a force to be reckoned with at the peak of his career. He made history at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games by completing 200m in 19.32 seconds – a world record that stood for 12 years until being broken by Usain Bolt. He also made a record of 43.49 seconds for the 400m race at the 1996 games.
Johnson was elected to the United States Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2004, where his 200 m performance at the 1996 Olympics was named the greatest track and field moment of the last 25 years.
In 2019, Johnson suffered a stroke but made a miraculous victory – and was back to spending his days paddle-boarding, rowing and cycling, reported the BBC.
In the video shared by Johnson, Chopra — the first Indian athlete to win gold in Men’s Javelin Throw at the 2020 Olympics — can be seen having extreme physical flexibility as he attempts to throw a ball.
Chopra had last year scripted another history by becoming the only second Indian to win a silver medal at the World Championships 2022 in the javelin throw final.
‘Amazing athleticism’
Multiple athletes replied to Johnson’s tweet, including retired Welsh shot-putter Shaun Pickering who shared another video of Chopra and commented on the latter’s “flexibility”.
In reply, Johnson shared yet another video of Chopra, pointing out the javelin thrower’s “amazing athleticism”.
Some more amazing athleticism from from @Neeraj_chopra1 pic.twitter.com/0rbvZgV8k2 🎥 @ShaunDPickering
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) January 4, 2023
American mid-distance runner Kyle Merber also shared a video of Chopra Wednesday, one that was originally tweeted by the World Athletics, a governing body for the sport of athletics. Johnson replied to Merber’s tweet and said what 25-year-old Chopra possesses is rare, even for a professional athlete.
“If you saw me trying to throw a javelin… or a shot, or a discus, or anything for that matter, even in my prime! There’s also a skill component of athleticism. As a thrower, he’s demonstrating it in an unexpected area,” said Johnson, who is now a sports commentator and pundit for BBC.
Johnson frequently takes to Twitter to comment on awe-inspiring performances by athletes.