ATLANTA - Kerri Strug was the courageous gymnast with the golden vault. Michael Johnson was the record-breaking sprinter with the golden shoes.<br>
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Ten years ago, they were among the most celebrated U-S athletes of the Atlanta Olympics, their glory captured on magazine covers, Wheaties boxes and newscasts.<br>
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Strug now works for the U-S Department of Justice in Washington. Johnson is opening a world-class training center near Dallas, designed for kids just learning to compete and professionals seeking an edge.<br>
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Her final vault assured the win, but only after she fell on her first attempt, injuring her ankle. The drama rose as she limped back for her final try.<br>
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Strug stuck the landing, despite having two torn ligaments in her ankle. Then, after raising her arms in victory as fans in the Georgia Dome cheered, the 4-foot-8 Strug collapsed to the floor and was carried away by her famous coach, Bela Karolyi.<br>
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Johnson's time in the spotlight covered the full decade of the 1990s. He was at the top of his sport in 1990 and 1991 but food poisoning limited him to one gold medal in 1992 on the 400-meter relay team.<br>
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Johnson, 38, was inducted into the USA Track Hall of Fame in 2004, and he is regarded as the top 200/400 sprinter in history. Perhaps his most impressive accomplishment was his career record of 19 gold medals with no silver or bronze in international competitions, including the Olympics, Goodwill Games and World Championships.<br>
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(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
