Patrick Johnson (sprinter) facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  Australia |
| Born | 26 September 1972 (age 52) Cairns, Queensland, Australia |
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Weight | 73 kg (161 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track and field |
| Event(s) | 100 metres, 200 metres |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | 100 m: 9.93 (Mito 2003) AR 200 m: 20.35 (Malmö 2006) |
Patrick Johnson is an amazing Australian athlete born on September 26, 1972, in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. He has both Aboriginal and Irish descent. He is famous for being super fast in track and field events.
Patrick holds the record for the fastest 100 metres sprint in Oceania and Australia. He ran it in an incredible 9.93 seconds! He achieved this amazing feat in Mito, Japan, on May 5, 2003. This made him the first person who wasn't of African ancestry to run the 100 metres in under 10 seconds. At that time, he was one of the fastest men in history!
He competed in the Olympic Games in 2000 and reached the finals in both the 100 and 200 metres at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. He also made it to the 200m final in the 2005 World Championships, finishing 6th. Patrick won a bronze medal in the 4 × 100 metres relay at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Contents
Patrick Johnson: Australia's Sprint Star
Early Life and Discovering His Talent
Patrick Johnson's mother was a Kaanju Indigenous Australian, and his father was from Ireland. He had a very unique start to life, being born on a speed boat while on the way to a hospital in Cairns!
Sadly, his mother passed away when he was young. So, Patrick grew up on his father's boat, which was used for catching mackerel. He spent his childhood traveling along the coast of Cape York with his brothers and sisters.
It wasn't until his early twenties that Patrick discovered his incredible talent for running. He entered a 100-metre race in Queensland by chance, and everyone was amazed by his speed! This led him to win a scholarship to train at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, which is a special place for top athletes.
Breaking Records and Winning Medals
Patrick Johnson became a true sprinting legend. His biggest achievement was running the 100 metres in 9.93 seconds. This wasn't just an Australian record; it was also the record for all of Oceania! It was a huge moment in athletics because he was the first person not from African ancestry to break the 10-second barrier.
He showed his skill on the world stage, reaching the finals of major competitions. At the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, he competed in both the 100m and 200m finals. He also made it to the 200m final at the 2005 World Championships.
One of his proudest moments was winning a bronze medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. He was part of the Australian team in the 4 × 100 metres relay, where they worked together to win a medal for their country.
Life After Running
Even though his running career was a bit shorter because he started later, Patrick Johnson continued to do important work. After retiring from athletics, he worked in the Australian diplomatic service. This means he helped represent Australia in other countries. He also worked in Indigenous health, helping to improve the health and well-being of Aboriginal people.
In 2018, Patrick shared his life story in a book called Growing Up Aboriginal In Australia. He wrote a chapter called 'My Life's Voyage', which tells about his journey and experiences.
