US athlete and Olympic champion Michael Johnson is one of the greatest sprinters in history. In the 1990s, he tore through the record books with a series of thrilling gold medal wins. Even after he retired from racing, he kept up a rigorous work-out regime, exuding health and fitness. So, for Michael it was frightening and unnerving when he had a stroke in 2018. It left him unable to move by himself and he had no idea if he’d ever recover. Michael Johnson was once the fastest man in the world - would he learn to walk again?

Presenter: Neal Razzell
Producer: Maryam Maruf
Sound design by Joel Cox

Picture: Michael Johnson after winning gold and breaking the 200m world record at the 1996 Olympics
Credit: Getty Images

US athlete and Olympic champion Michael Johnson is one of the greatest sprinters in history. In the 1990s, he tore through the record books with a series of thrilling gold medal wins. Even after he retired from racing, he kept up a rigorous work-out regime, exuding health and fitness. So, for Michael it was frightening and unnerving when he had a stroke in 2018. It left him unable to move by himself and he had no idea if he’d ever recover. Michael Johnson was once the fastest man in the world - would he learn to walk again? Presenter: Neal Razzell Producer: Maryam Maruf Sound design by Joel Cox Picture: Michael Johnson after winning gold and breaking the 200m world record at the 1996 Olympics Credit: Getty Images

Michael Johnson: how the world's fastest man learned to walk again

<p>Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. 
 
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Our guests come from every corner of the globe: from Burundi to Beverly Hills, New Zealand to North Korea, Rajasthan to Rio. And their stories can be about anything: tales of survival, humour, resilience and intrigue. From the mind-blowing account of the Japanese man trapped in his own reality TV show, to the Swedish women rescued from lions by a tin of spam. It’s life’s wild side, in stereo. </p><p>Lives Less Ordinary is brought to you by the team behind Outlook, the home of true life storytelling on BBC World Service radio for nearly 60 years.
 
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Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. Our guests come from every corner of the globe: from Burundi to Beverly Hills, New Zealand to North Korea, Rajasthan to Rio. And their stories can be about anything: tales of survival, humour, resilience and intrigue. From the mind-blowing account of the Japanese man trapped in his own reality TV show, to the Swedish women rescued from lions by a tin of spam. It’s life’s wild side, in stereo. Lives Less Ordinary is brought to you by the team behind Outlook, the home of true life storytelling on BBC World Service radio for nearly 60 years. Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784 You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice

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Michael Johnson: how the world's fastest man learned to walk again

Michael Johnson: how the world's fastest man learned to walk again

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