Michael Johnson responds to Mark Lewis Francis...

[MrStevecro]

any keen follower of track can see MLF has no future as a top sprinter based on what we've seen. Sure, he may do enough to get some funding occasionally but that's about his limit.

The boy wonder of 10 years ago has been an also ran since those early predictions.

There's some ingredient missing that Linford can't do a thing about.

[TeifiValley123]

I think MJ has earned the right to criticise whoever he wants. Not because he won everything, but because he makes sound and sensible judgements. He has his feet on the ground and he is the polar opposite of a sensationalist. Thats why he would be unsuitable for American TV networks.

[TheKamakuraBoy]

@TeifiValley123 Well said; MJ speaks his mind, even if it's not politically correct.

[justanotherpeasant]

Michael Johnson needs to shut up, before he pisses off someone who can expose his expose his PED usage. Can't stand these Americans always hating on somebody.

[baracusain12]

Was Johnson on PEDs probably, he ran 19.32 and never got anywhere close to it after, but he's right. In the era where sub 9.9 is the order of the day, what is 10.18.

[WithBACON]

How fast would Michael Johnson have run without PEDs? Not very. He needs to STFU.

[fungboy3]

Johnson has a point one championship performance does not make MLF a world class spinter..he's got to do it every time. Not sure what happened to him but he should have had ran under 10 seconds by now

[MrStevecro]

@fungboy3

yes he should have - instead he's been stuck between 10.10 and 10.20m for 7 years now. Can't see a sub 10 happening as he approaches 30.

It's now up to Linford and his own work ethic and self belief to ensure London isn't his last hurrah

[WastemanDotCom]

LMAO Johnson parred MLF

[digitalhologram]

@alhoppy, bitter american? What exactly does MJ have to be bitter about!? I suppose it must be how good MLF is nowadays and how many world records and gold medals he has won, Damn it he should definitely be bitter about this Silver medal at the European champs in 10.2 secs. Haha. MLF is a disgrace to athletics.

MLF is currently 30 metres behind Bolt and rest of the best. Lottery funding should be withdrawn from our athletes who cannot get below 10 seconds within a few years.

[wikichris]

Harsh but fair.

[ilikemilkshake206]

MJ is arguably the best commentator/analyst across all sport, up there with McEnroe 

[Henry1993bc]

this is a man that ran in 24q gold spikes hahaha

[alhoppy]

lol bitter american.....

[PikachuLovesSushi]

Hilarious! MLF never performs on the day this was just a fluke.

[slimithy12]

johnson is a hater. he thinks he's the only track and field legend there is. stfu!

[TheAngeltoDemon]

@slimithy12 Not quite, he thinks the world of Bolt, and has mentioned he's happy he didn't have to run against him.

[fungboy3]

@slimithy12 Really ? He clearly said to MLF to prove him wrong every time he races to earn his respect. What has Johnson got to hate MLF about for not winning any championships except relays. You clearly have not heard him commentate the 400m where he supports Jeremy Warner but admits Merritt was a bit better

or he actually rated Christian Malcolm as a 200m runner before he had his injuries.

[AdamKhanRs5]

johnson ur just a boring stiff

[TheAngeltoDemon]

@AdamKhanRs5 This is the point Johnson made about Great Britian celebrating sprint mediocrity. That dude was fat as well, and what to come in second. And he got beat by a French guy, though LeMaitre is actually competitive.

[clins05]

way to go Johnson!! thumbs up.

[sign05]

Thumps up Johnson Mark Lewis Francis is a weed head.

[TwinFraser]

truer words were never spoken

[MegaKennedy2000]

Who is the white guy who sits next to colin Jackson?

[MITOGEN]

@MegaKennedy2000 Athlete/commentator Steve Cram.

[con1weezy]

@MegaKennedy2000 ur dad

[MegaKennedy2000]

@con1weezy very funny :)

[whytellmewhy]

why the hell are they showing this other guys the freaking white kid won!

[CHEESYhairyGASH]

a 100 metre splinter can not tell the critics to shhhh if he can not run sub 10 seconds on a regular basis, there is simply too much scope for improvement for him to be content with his performance.

[zordonesses]

Michael Johnson you should shhh.

[kopk888]

@zordonesses you can't tell the world's greatest 400m runner to shh

[zordonesses]

@kopk888 I couldn't Resist.

[YouMeandFresnoBob]

Michael Johnson can hardly talk about grace - he is incredibly arrogant and was a real "look at me" athlete. But he speaks his mind and that is rare thing for analysts - at least it's not all bland platitudes, so I am glad he is on the BBC.

[phastman1994]

@YouMeandFresnoBob Johnson wasn't arrogant, he was just very competitive and one of the greatest, takes lots of confidence to be a sprinter like MJ was. But you have a point about him speaking his mind and being true.

[mattiomattio]

@YouMeandFresnoBob the differnece is is that johnson had the performances to back it up...

[Taylor09901]

johnsons right id like to see lewis francis go to a diamond league meeting and get to the final and run close to the 10 dead mark like he used to be able to do

[guy85ful]

lol ths dude it sad he ran a 10.18 and tell shush lol he aint fast lol push get got second in europe the european man aint fast plus 10.18 aint somethingto be happy for but mj is talking the truth

[nitrousdaking]

Owned...

[ohedd]

Hahaha Johnson is the man

[opium1510]

Love the way Edwards is starting his bum-licking of francis, Until Johnson starts to completely disagree with Edwards. Then Edwards suddenly dissing Francis.

MLF is what is wrong with British Sport , his attitude stinks learn something from the Welsh.

[Perkiniho]

i'm still not convinced that mlf got 2nd

[speedFIYAH]

@Perkiniho i think it was fabricated. obviously they are guna put dwain down any chance they get. and by having a very close 2nd-5th, they got their chance.

[hdsport82]

should also Jonathan Edwards and a number of the BBC team also need to listen to MJ and get some perspective. 10.18 is not amazing FFS! This'll be part of our undoing in 2012 we'll hype them all up to ridiculous degree. Jess Ennis should take MJ's advice and live like a hermit until the games!

[kopk888]

@hdsport82 lol if usain bolt breaks the world record again in London, im sure they will all jizz to death

[hdsport82]

MLF has (excluding relays) won one European silver. MJ has 3 Olympic golds and 6 world golds. He needs to shut up and listen to people like MJ of course he won't and it was no surprise he screwed up in the relay.

[Lafiness]

With the same time (10"18) he could have been 5th and there was no talking about a come back.

[supahoopa10]

Well, here we go again, all the hype and now today, back to another mlf cock-up!

PLEASE, UK athletics, pick someone else for the CG, Worlds and especially, 2012 Olympics relay teams, he's SOOO big headed, needs to take a leaf outa Rhys Williams' book. (Wouldn't share Dai Greene's lap of honour, cos silver didn't deserve it)

I feel so sorry for the rest of the 100m relay team, they must be gutted

[shoombu]

MLF need to shut his mouth and run better times "talking bout biggest comeback". AS micheal says, he did well. Not great. When he starts running sub 10 and shows the the talent he had when he was a junior, then he can run his mouth.

[vibezzy]

He is out of order for that

[gateway1965]

@jkfitpro MLF has promised much over the years mostly due to his own posturing. He has shown a lack of maturity in the past both on and off the track. Lets hope he can use this performance as a spring board an prove the critics wrong. As for MJ, he is a breath of fresh air, he is not afraid to bring a dose of reality to some over hyped athletes and an over expectant media. Lets see if Mark has turned the corner. One sunny day doesn't make a summer.

[DbChosen1]

Micheal Johnson does have a point but u have to credit MLF he did well.....but it doesnt mean he is back to running 10.0 or running 9.9 cos wen he goes diamond league he prob will flop