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The Dirtiest Race in History: Ben Johnson, Carl Lewis and the 1988 Olympic 100m Final
'A captivating and detailed account ... it reads like a thriller, which is exactly the right tone to adopt by author Richard Moore for a story dripping with skulduggery and intrigue ... compelling' The Sunday ExpressThe 1988 Seoul Olympics played host to what has been described by some as the dirtiest race of all time, by others as the greatest. The final of the men's 100 metres at those Olympics is certainly the most infamous in the history of athletics, and more indelibly etched into the consciousness of the sport, the Olympics, and a global audience of millions, than any other athletics event before or since.Ben Johnson's world-record time of 9.79 seconds – as thrilling as it was – was the beginning rather than the end of the story. Following the race, Johnson tested positive, news that generated as many – if not more – shockwaves as his fastest ever run. He was stripped of the title, Lewis was awarded the gold medal, Linford Christie the silver and Calvin Smith the bronze.More than two decades on, the story still hadn't ended. In 1999 Lewis was named Sportsman of the Century by the IOC, and Olympian of the Century by Sports Illustrated. Yet his reputation was damaged by revelations that he too used performance-enhancing drugs, and tested positive prior to the Seoul Olympics. Christie also tested positive in Seoul but his explanation, that the banned substance had been in ginseng tea, was accepted. Smith, now a lecturer in English literature at a Florida university, was the only athlete in the top five whose reputation remains unblemished – the others all tested positive at some stage in their careers.Containing remarkable new revelations, this book uses witness interviews - with Johnson, Lewis and Smith among others - to reconstruct the build-up to the race, the race itself, and the fallout when news of Johnson's positive test broke and he was forced into hiding. It also examines the rivalry of the two favourites going into it, and puts the race in a historical context, examining its continuing relevance on the sport today, where every new record elicits scepticism.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2012
66 people are currently reading
868 people want to read
About the author
Richard Moore
17 books66 followersRichard Moore is a freelance journalist and author. His first book, In Search of Robert Millar (HarperSport), won Best Biography at the 2008 British Sports Book Awards. His second book, Heroes, Villains & Velodromes (HarperSport), was long-listed for the 2008 William Hill Sports Book of the Year.
He is also the author of Slaying the Badger: LeMond, Hinault and the Greatest Ever Tour de France (Yellow Jersey, May 2011), and Sky’s the Limit: British Cycling’s Quest to Conquer the Tour de France (HarperSport, June 2011).
His latest book, The Dirtiest Race in History: Ben Johnson, Carl Lewis and the 1988 Olympic 100m final, will be published by Wisden Sports Writing in June, 2012.
He is also a former racing cyclist who represented Scotland at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and Great Britain at the 1998 Tour de Langkawi.
He is also the author of Slaying the Badger: LeMond, Hinault and the Greatest Ever Tour de France (Yellow Jersey, May 2011), and Sky’s the Limit: British Cycling’s Quest to Conquer the Tour de France (HarperSport, June 2011).
His latest book, The Dirtiest Race in History: Ben Johnson, Carl Lewis and the 1988 Olympic 100m final, will be published by Wisden Sports Writing in June, 2012.
He is also a former racing cyclist who represented Scotland at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and Great Britain at the 1998 Tour de Langkawi.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
December 29, 2017
Forget Usain Bolt...Forget Carl Lewis...Ben Johnson #1 sprinter of all time in my books.
I was just a kid when watching the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. Was a fan of Carl Lewis before that, but then Ben Johnson came along and completely blitzed everyone else - and made it look easy!
At the time I thought he was a "cheat" after the news came out next day.
HOWEVER, in hindsight, now that it's obvious virtually all elite athletes are on some sort of drugs, and that everyone else in that 100M final (including Carl Lewis) has also been shown with subsequent testing to have also used steroids, I now think Ben Johnson is the greatest 100M runner ever.
9.79 in 1988 is better (counting "inflation") than Usain Bolt's recent times these decades later.
Also think Johnson could have achieved a lot more if he had been able to continue in his career.
I was just a kid when watching the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. Was a fan of Carl Lewis before that, but then Ben Johnson came along and completely blitzed everyone else - and made it look easy!
At the time I thought he was a "cheat" after the news came out next day.
HOWEVER, in hindsight, now that it's obvious virtually all elite athletes are on some sort of drugs, and that everyone else in that 100M final (including Carl Lewis) has also been shown with subsequent testing to have also used steroids, I now think Ben Johnson is the greatest 100M runner ever.
9.79 in 1988 is better (counting "inflation") than Usain Bolt's recent times these decades later.
Also think Johnson could have achieved a lot more if he had been able to continue in his career.
May 2, 2015
Remember Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson? I was watching Espn' s 30 for 30 and came across this riveting documentary and needed to know more. This book provided an interesting and exciting snapshot of this rivalry as well as the story of doping in the international running arena. This was a subject I didn't even know I was interested in, but the book captured my attention and never let go. Riveting for any reader. Moore also covers the dilemma of college and amateur sports vs. Sponsors and what goes on behind the scenes. Recommended reading for any sports enthusiast, runner or Olympic junkie. And if you just like a good story with colorful characters and a place in history, pick it up. A good read all around.
October 27, 2025
Richard Moore is a sports journalist; his 2012 book The Dirtiest Race in History recounts two storied sprinters of the 1980s, American Carl Lewis (b. 1961) and Jamaican-Canadian Ben Johnson (b. 1961), their rivalry, and the controversial 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics 100 meter final which saw Johnson cross the finish line first in 9.79 seconds only to be disqualified a few days later when he tested positive for banned performance enhancing substances. Moore conducted exhaustive interviews for this book (though Lewis was largely uncooperative) and paints a colorful picture of track and and field in the '80s, as well as the doping practices that many athletes and their coaches colluded in prior to the development and widespread adoption of reliable drug testing.
I'm sure that followers of '80s running will enjoy this book, though for me, there were bits I found interesting but most wasn't in my wheelhouse. I listened to the audiobook narrated by a professional narrator and was unpleasantly surprised that the narrator's audible breath intakes at the start of many sentences were somehow left in the recording by the audio engineers - it seriously got on my nerves over the course of my 11 hour listen.
My statistics:
Book 327 for 2025
Book 2253 cumulatively
I'm sure that followers of '80s running will enjoy this book, though for me, there were bits I found interesting but most wasn't in my wheelhouse. I listened to the audiobook narrated by a professional narrator and was unpleasantly surprised that the narrator's audible breath intakes at the start of many sentences were somehow left in the recording by the audio engineers - it seriously got on my nerves over the course of my 11 hour listen.
My statistics:
Book 327 for 2025
Book 2253 cumulatively
February 16, 2025
Interesting insight into the world of Ben and Carl both pre and post race. How the authorities dealt with the situation post race was interesting to read about.
July 28, 2022
….. Beyond the line, Lewis jogs after Johnson, but the exchange between them – another half-turn, another handshake – is cursory. Johnson doesn’t smile when he looks at him; if anything, his expression darkens.
Lewis stares at the big screen in bewilderment as Johnson takes off on a lap of honour with a Canadian flag, and then the beaten man gives an interview to NBC. ‘I don’t feel it was the best race I ran here,’ says Lewis. ‘The only thing I can say is, I talked to my mother last night, she had a dream two nights ago that my father just said, “I’m all right,” and that’s all I feel, I gave it my best shot.’ His father, Bill, had died the previous year.
Carl had buried him with the 100m gold medal he had won at the Los Angeles Olympics, as well as a promise that he would win himself a replacement in Seoul.
Had he not been aware of Johnson’s explosive start? ‘Well I didn’t see him until about 60 or 70 metres,’ replies Lewis, still visibly stunned, still anguished. ‘He must have really caught a flyer… I just tried to run the best I could and I… I’m pleased with my race.’
‘Well,’ Charlie Jones comes back in, as Lewis, head lowered, disappears into the bowels of the stadium. ‘The waiting is over, the questions have been answered.’
When he had finished his lap of honour, Johnson was asked which he treasured more – the world record or the gold medal. ‘The gold medal,’ he said, ‘because they can’t take that away from you.’ …
This is a story mainly about four extraordinary men: Ben Johnson, Carl Lewis, Charlie Francis and Joe Douglas. Johnson and Douglas were both willing interviewees and could not have been more helpful. Francis, Johnson’s coach, died in 2010.
Seoul Olympics in 1988 will be remembered for one race sadly for all the wrong reasons. It was the 100 meters final and all eyes
were on two men Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis.
You were either a Ben Johnson fan or you were a Carl Lewis fan.
The dirtiest race in history brings out, without doubt the most controversial moment in Olympic track history. Over three decades have gone by. But those images still remain etched in our minds.
Many felt that Ben Johnson was a victim and that he was made an example of.
In this tome, every moment that led up to that 1988 100-meter race is brought alive through measured words and impeccable research.
Will anybody ever know the truth? Was Johnson's drink spiked? Was he a victim of a conspiracy? Or was he the classical villain?
Read this book to get to the bottom of the controversy.
Lewis stares at the big screen in bewilderment as Johnson takes off on a lap of honour with a Canadian flag, and then the beaten man gives an interview to NBC. ‘I don’t feel it was the best race I ran here,’ says Lewis. ‘The only thing I can say is, I talked to my mother last night, she had a dream two nights ago that my father just said, “I’m all right,” and that’s all I feel, I gave it my best shot.’ His father, Bill, had died the previous year.
Carl had buried him with the 100m gold medal he had won at the Los Angeles Olympics, as well as a promise that he would win himself a replacement in Seoul.
Had he not been aware of Johnson’s explosive start? ‘Well I didn’t see him until about 60 or 70 metres,’ replies Lewis, still visibly stunned, still anguished. ‘He must have really caught a flyer… I just tried to run the best I could and I… I’m pleased with my race.’
‘Well,’ Charlie Jones comes back in, as Lewis, head lowered, disappears into the bowels of the stadium. ‘The waiting is over, the questions have been answered.’
When he had finished his lap of honour, Johnson was asked which he treasured more – the world record or the gold medal. ‘The gold medal,’ he said, ‘because they can’t take that away from you.’ …
This is a story mainly about four extraordinary men: Ben Johnson, Carl Lewis, Charlie Francis and Joe Douglas. Johnson and Douglas were both willing interviewees and could not have been more helpful. Francis, Johnson’s coach, died in 2010.
Seoul Olympics in 1988 will be remembered for one race sadly for all the wrong reasons. It was the 100 meters final and all eyes
were on two men Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis.
You were either a Ben Johnson fan or you were a Carl Lewis fan.
The dirtiest race in history brings out, without doubt the most controversial moment in Olympic track history. Over three decades have gone by. But those images still remain etched in our minds.
Many felt that Ben Johnson was a victim and that he was made an example of.
In this tome, every moment that led up to that 1988 100-meter race is brought alive through measured words and impeccable research.
Will anybody ever know the truth? Was Johnson's drink spiked? Was he a victim of a conspiracy? Or was he the classical villain?
Read this book to get to the bottom of the controversy.
May 7, 2021
Fabulous account of the 88 Seoul Olympics 100m final, the drugs controversy, the before and the after. Most from this generation have probably not heard of Carl Lewis, let alone Ben Johnson, but for me, having grown up in the 80s and 90s, the names are still familiar and still bring up memories. The author delves into the personal histories of both Carl Lewis and Johnson, their coaches but also the history of the sport in the 70s and 80s and the politics. He covers quite well how while sprinters like Johnson were obviously doping (and maybe others, including Lewis, less obviously), the systems and organizations of the time (including the IAAF and the IOA) were also culpable in what was becoming a seedy, disresputable sport. This they achieved partly by doing nothing (or doing little - in competion testing only for instance while not starting out of competition testing until much later) or even actively sabotaging positive tests results (including Lewis' own in 88) for fear of financial ruin. In all of this, neither Johnson nor lewis come out looking well. There is clearly an attempt to be more sympathetic towards Ben and at the same time being more cynical toward Lewis and his motivations. At the end of the book i began looking into the histories of some of the other sprinters I had grown up with (Burrell, Christie, Bailey, Powell, Blake, and Bolt). With the exception of Bailey and Bolt - not one has proven clean. (And in the case of Marion Jones, who got herself trained by Johnson's trainer, there were even more tragedies including imprisonment). What a beautiful and yet, horrific sport. What a beautiful and yet, horrifying book.
December 4, 2022
I really enjoyed this book.
As someone who was born after the ‘88 Olympics, I obviously didn’t know anything about the controversy until I grew up and starting taking a real interest in sport. When I did find out about them, I just automatically assumed that Ben Johnson was a massive cheat and it was as cut and dry as that.
This book gives a really interesting perspective into the Lewis-Johnson rivalry, more about them both as individuals and also makes you realise how many other people were on some form of substance or another. It also highlights how much of a role coaches and other entourage play in the career of a high-level athlete.
Very interesting read!
As someone who was born after the ‘88 Olympics, I obviously didn’t know anything about the controversy until I grew up and starting taking a real interest in sport. When I did find out about them, I just automatically assumed that Ben Johnson was a massive cheat and it was as cut and dry as that.
This book gives a really interesting perspective into the Lewis-Johnson rivalry, more about them both as individuals and also makes you realise how many other people were on some form of substance or another. It also highlights how much of a role coaches and other entourage play in the career of a high-level athlete.
Very interesting read!
January 2, 2024
Picked this up from the bookshare in my building - great bit of sports journalism on an event I only knew a tiny bit about beforehand.
In a way, the story of Lewis and Johnson is so compelling that Moore just needs to come in and tell it, but he does so very well, through conversation with (pretty much) everyone involved.
It's hard not to feel some sympathy for Johnson, despite it all.
In a way, the story of Lewis and Johnson is so compelling that Moore just needs to come in and tell it, but he does so very well, through conversation with (pretty much) everyone involved.
It's hard not to feel some sympathy for Johnson, despite it all.
January 28, 2025
A really good insightful read about doping in athletics and the politics around it. An in sight into the people surrounding Johnson & Lewis
June 7, 2025
The 1988 Men's 100 Meter Final is one of the most dramatic and tawdry events in the history of sports. I was captivated reading the back story of the two stars of the book, American Carl Lewis and Canadian Ben Johnson. Their lives are portrayed richly.
The author conducted excellent research and insight into the two athletes. Fans of the human condition will love this book! Good Read.
The author conducted excellent research and insight into the two athletes. Fans of the human condition will love this book! Good Read.
August 2, 2020
The Race; The Rivalry; The Result and The Recrimination. on the 24th of September, 1998 at 1.20 P.M in Seoul, 7 athletes limbered their bodies, trying to slacken and relax their muscles and limbs. However, Robson da Silva, Raymond Stewart, Lindford Christie, Desai Williams, Calvin Smith and Dennis Mitchell merely made up the numbers. The attention of the whole world was riveted upon the remaining 2 finalists - Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson.
The 100 meters sprint finals at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 defined a seminal moment in the acerbic rivalry between two supreme athletes. Their battles were spoken of in the same breath as the boxing bouts of Ali & Frazier and the serve and volley clashes of Borg and Connors. While King Carl was refined, polished, cultured and sophisticated in his demeanour, Big Ben was his polar opposite. Looking brash and sounding cocky, Ben Johnson was a perfect anathema of a sophisticated role model.
As the starting gun was fired, all seven athletes sprung up and took off like a pack of gazelles. However at the end of 9.79 seconds, Ben Johnson the 'Human Bullet' had left the whole pack hopelessly trailing behind him. Johnson and Canada had bagged the gold medal. But the euphoria barely lasted couple of days. In a stunning announcement made on the Tuesday following the race, the Olympic Association announced to a stunned world that Johnson had been tested positive for a banned substance, Stanozolol, which led to his being disqualified and consequently stripped of his medal. Carl Lewis thus had the unique honour of defending (albeit in unusual circumstances) his gold medal conquest in the Los Angeles Olympics held four years earlier. But was Ben Johnson's sample as a result of a spiking conspiracy? Did a mysterious man who was in the anti-doping test room (where he had no business whatsoever), spike Johnson's beer? Was this a conspiracy contrived by Carl Lewis himself?
In this stunning work, Richard Moore ploughs deep into the underbelly of the athlete-doctor-drug runner network and unearths the murky and dangerous side athletics. In fact amongst all the runners who started in the sensational 100 meters sprint final at Seoul, only Calvin Smith and Robson da Silva had squeaky clean drug-free careers. Even Lewis was tested positive at the pre-Olympic trials only to be exonerated mysteriously!
Doctors collude with coached and urine samples disappear overnight as the steroid market runs into overdrive to make athletes stronger, faster and over time, poorer in health. Charlie Francis, the coach of Ben Johnson, in tandem with an eccentric medical doctor, Jamie Astaphan consciously egged on their pupil on a stringent steroid regimen injecting into his body performance enhancing drugs such as Estrogol and other Human Growth Harmones ("HGH").
The world of sports is at a real crossroads. With an ineffective anti-doping body and extremely ell connected and influential 'fixers' having the wherewithal and the resources to bypass investigation mechanisms, 'cheats' are beginning to abound. Richard Moore with devastating clarity exhorts the governing agencies to take the bull by its horns and put it to permanent sleep.
The Dirtiest Race - Time to come Clean!
The 100 meters sprint finals at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 defined a seminal moment in the acerbic rivalry between two supreme athletes. Their battles were spoken of in the same breath as the boxing bouts of Ali & Frazier and the serve and volley clashes of Borg and Connors. While King Carl was refined, polished, cultured and sophisticated in his demeanour, Big Ben was his polar opposite. Looking brash and sounding cocky, Ben Johnson was a perfect anathema of a sophisticated role model.
As the starting gun was fired, all seven athletes sprung up and took off like a pack of gazelles. However at the end of 9.79 seconds, Ben Johnson the 'Human Bullet' had left the whole pack hopelessly trailing behind him. Johnson and Canada had bagged the gold medal. But the euphoria barely lasted couple of days. In a stunning announcement made on the Tuesday following the race, the Olympic Association announced to a stunned world that Johnson had been tested positive for a banned substance, Stanozolol, which led to his being disqualified and consequently stripped of his medal. Carl Lewis thus had the unique honour of defending (albeit in unusual circumstances) his gold medal conquest in the Los Angeles Olympics held four years earlier. But was Ben Johnson's sample as a result of a spiking conspiracy? Did a mysterious man who was in the anti-doping test room (where he had no business whatsoever), spike Johnson's beer? Was this a conspiracy contrived by Carl Lewis himself?
In this stunning work, Richard Moore ploughs deep into the underbelly of the athlete-doctor-drug runner network and unearths the murky and dangerous side athletics. In fact amongst all the runners who started in the sensational 100 meters sprint final at Seoul, only Calvin Smith and Robson da Silva had squeaky clean drug-free careers. Even Lewis was tested positive at the pre-Olympic trials only to be exonerated mysteriously!
Doctors collude with coached and urine samples disappear overnight as the steroid market runs into overdrive to make athletes stronger, faster and over time, poorer in health. Charlie Francis, the coach of Ben Johnson, in tandem with an eccentric medical doctor, Jamie Astaphan consciously egged on their pupil on a stringent steroid regimen injecting into his body performance enhancing drugs such as Estrogol and other Human Growth Harmones ("HGH").
The world of sports is at a real crossroads. With an ineffective anti-doping body and extremely ell connected and influential 'fixers' having the wherewithal and the resources to bypass investigation mechanisms, 'cheats' are beginning to abound. Richard Moore with devastating clarity exhorts the governing agencies to take the bull by its horns and put it to permanent sleep.
The Dirtiest Race - Time to come Clean!
September 19, 2016
This is THE book to read about the scandalous 1988 100m Olympic final in Seoul. It's a riveting read that goes back and forth between Carl Lewis, Ben Johnson, their coaches, managers, hangers-on, reporters, and fellow competitors.
You get the back stories of the 2 main guys, their confrontations with each other on the track before 1988, and everything that led up to their final meeting in Seoul at the Olympics. Plus, there is some post Olympics updates on the main players involved. 6 of the 8 competitors in that final were implicated in some sort of drug controversy at some point in their career! Including Carl Lewis.
The author interviews almost everyone that is humanely possible for the book, so it feels very complete and thorough. The only interviews he couldn't seem to get are with people who were already deceased and, of course, Carl Lewis. Though in the end, he does get some quotes from him. Charlie Francis (Ben Johnson's coach) had already died by the time of the writing of the book, which is disappointing. But, since Francis had already written a book and testified at the Dubin inquiry, his opinions and quotes are stated which helps to round out his position.
If you have any interest in this race and the circumstances surrounding it, then it's a great read for you.
You get the back stories of the 2 main guys, their confrontations with each other on the track before 1988, and everything that led up to their final meeting in Seoul at the Olympics. Plus, there is some post Olympics updates on the main players involved. 6 of the 8 competitors in that final were implicated in some sort of drug controversy at some point in their career! Including Carl Lewis.
The author interviews almost everyone that is humanely possible for the book, so it feels very complete and thorough. The only interviews he couldn't seem to get are with people who were already deceased and, of course, Carl Lewis. Though in the end, he does get some quotes from him. Charlie Francis (Ben Johnson's coach) had already died by the time of the writing of the book, which is disappointing. But, since Francis had already written a book and testified at the Dubin inquiry, his opinions and quotes are stated which helps to round out his position.
If you have any interest in this race and the circumstances surrounding it, then it's a great read for you.
March 2, 2014
I clearly remember, as a 7-year-old living in two-channel rural Ireland, hearing the phrase "anabolic steroids" for the first time in the aftermath of this momentous race. That's how big this story was - it shook the world of sport to its very foundations.
As a previous reviewer has remarked, there are two stories in this book - the simmering rivalry between the aloof Carl Lewis and mellow Ben Johnson and the drug culture that overwhelmed the world of athletics in the 80s. I found the former by far the more interesting, the hatred and jealousy between two sprinters at the pinnacles of their career propelled the 100 metres into the blue riband event it is today. The doping scandal however is mired in politics and technicalities and didn't grab me as much as the duel on the track.
Still there is much here to intrigue and beguile - Johnson in particular is good value for a worthy sound-bite. Recommended for any sports fan who wants to learn more about the most famous race of the twentieth century.
As a previous reviewer has remarked, there are two stories in this book - the simmering rivalry between the aloof Carl Lewis and mellow Ben Johnson and the drug culture that overwhelmed the world of athletics in the 80s. I found the former by far the more interesting, the hatred and jealousy between two sprinters at the pinnacles of their career propelled the 100 metres into the blue riband event it is today. The doping scandal however is mired in politics and technicalities and didn't grab me as much as the duel on the track.
Still there is much here to intrigue and beguile - Johnson in particular is good value for a worthy sound-bite. Recommended for any sports fan who wants to learn more about the most famous race of the twentieth century.
January 15, 2021
Like most Canadians who were alive in 1988, I not only remember where I was when Ben Johnson won the 100 metre race in Seoul, but I remember where I was when the scandal broke. I was so disappointed in him for taking drugs and cheating that it made my journal at the time! I didn't know that since that day, 5 other participants in that race have been found to be cheating through drugs as well, but in light of the recent Lance Armstrong scandal, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. This book was fascinating and I'm afraid that I don't watch the Olympics with the same wide-eyed naivety as I did when I was a child. Too much money involved.
March 10, 2021
Deeply and well-researched book on the story behind the race of the century. Published in 2013 almost 25 years after the race the author goes to great length to interview all the main players, and to discuss doping in track racing in general. It was refreshing to read an account of sports doping without the writer's own sense of moral superiority, and knowing (now) that six out of the eight contenders in the race were actually using performance-enhancing drugs I can't help thinking that Ben Johnson's only crime was to get caught.
March 19, 2023
The dirtiest race in history covers the build-up and aftermath of the 1988 100m Olympic final and the rivalry between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis.
Before reading this book I knew relatively little about the this period in sprinting other then Ben Johnson was a cheat and Carl Lewis was one of the greatest sprinters ever; after reading this book though I realise just how intriguing this period in athletics really was from the use of drugs to the rivalries and (for the time) mind-boggling times that were being set.
The first few chapters explain the conflicting rise of the two athletes, Carl Lewis came from an athletic family and was extremely gifted from a young age. Ben Johnson, on the other hand, came from a less well-off family and had a much more gradual rise to the top. Carl Lewis, for all his achievements, is presented as quite a pompous character due to comparing himself to Michael Jackson and his apparent need for prestigious sponsorships and recognition. it also delves into the reasons behind his dislike in the media throughout his career on-top of appearing arrogant he also was accused of being a Homosexual and progressive which played a role in his dislike in the 1980s media. After the 1984 Olympics which Lewis won Ben Johnson began to gradually climb the ranks in sprinting due to his coach Charlie Francis and his use of PED's. Ben Johnson after losing countless times to Lewis finally beat him in Zurich 1985 then went from strength to strength. He won almost every meeting after that including the world athletics final in which he set a new world record 9.83. then in Seoul he won gold again and set another world record before being disqualified for stanozolol. after that, disgraced Johnson went on a downhill streak having his reputation in taters losing sponsors and never reaching the same form again. carl in contrast would set a new world record in 1991 of 9.86 and is still remembered as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
The most commendable thing about this book is Moore's obvious effort that he's put into getting the most comprehensive account he can. He truly scoured the globe to interview anyone who was of importance to the story, which given the relative anonymity of many of the people involved, is very impressive. Incredibly the one man he struggled get an interview with is perhaps the most well-known, Carl Lewis who seems to have lived up to his reputation. His interview with Ben Johnson added a lot to the book as being able to hear first-hand from the man himself was very interesting, providing some great soundbites as well.
He delves between the sprinting history and drug-use history quite interchangeable, I found the sprinting history to be more engaging as the drug-use side of the story is still a bit murky even now. I also would have liked if the purpose of the particular drug's that were used and their benefits and side effects were better explained as it's still not clear exactly what makes them so powerful other than the obvious in that they are steroids. the two seemed different in so many ways Carl was hard-working eloquent arrogant and elegant with an incredible last forty metres. Johnson on other hand was laid-back, quite (maybe due to his stutter) and explosive out of blocks with a powerful running style.
The rivalry is perhaps the most captivating as it seems the two and their respective camps had genuine animosity towards each other. Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson were constantly making digs towards each other in the media and in private, even twenty years later, Johnson still seems to harbour a grudge towards him. Moore even explains a theory which accuses the Lewis camp of deliberately spiking Johnson's beer after Seoul using the 'mystery man' Andre Jackson although its uncertain how much of this is just bitterness on Johnson's part. Another aspect revealed was just how disliked Lewis was by his fellow runners I always got the impression Lewis was a cool-laid-back figure that would get along well with anyone, but interviews with his contemporaries show the disdain many like Christie, Wells and Stewart had for him.
Moore gives a more nuanced perspective then you'll find anywhere in the media Carl Lewis by his own reckoning and by the public was seen as the 'clean' guy going up against the cheat and trying to win but it's evident that Johnson isn't even close to being the only sprinter in that time tainted with drugs. In fact six of the eight Seoul finalists were caught at some point in their career of using drugs earning the race's name as the dirtiest in history, even Carl Lewis was caught using a PED but was latter cleared as having unknowingly taken them.
The story is quite an interesting example of just how far people can fall just by their reputation alone. after his 9.79 run Johnson was a world record holder Olympic medalist and soon-to-be multi-millionaire with a bright future in sprinting ahead. After he was caught, he was vilified in the press, abandoned by his country, banned from sprinting and by the time of Moore interviewing him bitter, relatively poor and forgotten. To think if he had started his drug cycle earlier he may have gone to the grave as an Olympic gold medalist and the first man to run sub 9.8 without anyone knowing otherwise.
Overall this is a fantastic look at the rivalry between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis and the use of drugs in Athletics. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in this period of sprinting.
Before reading this book I knew relatively little about the this period in sprinting other then Ben Johnson was a cheat and Carl Lewis was one of the greatest sprinters ever; after reading this book though I realise just how intriguing this period in athletics really was from the use of drugs to the rivalries and (for the time) mind-boggling times that were being set.
The first few chapters explain the conflicting rise of the two athletes, Carl Lewis came from an athletic family and was extremely gifted from a young age. Ben Johnson, on the other hand, came from a less well-off family and had a much more gradual rise to the top. Carl Lewis, for all his achievements, is presented as quite a pompous character due to comparing himself to Michael Jackson and his apparent need for prestigious sponsorships and recognition. it also delves into the reasons behind his dislike in the media throughout his career on-top of appearing arrogant he also was accused of being a Homosexual and progressive which played a role in his dislike in the 1980s media. After the 1984 Olympics which Lewis won Ben Johnson began to gradually climb the ranks in sprinting due to his coach Charlie Francis and his use of PED's. Ben Johnson after losing countless times to Lewis finally beat him in Zurich 1985 then went from strength to strength. He won almost every meeting after that including the world athletics final in which he set a new world record 9.83. then in Seoul he won gold again and set another world record before being disqualified for stanozolol. after that, disgraced Johnson went on a downhill streak having his reputation in taters losing sponsors and never reaching the same form again. carl in contrast would set a new world record in 1991 of 9.86 and is still remembered as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
The most commendable thing about this book is Moore's obvious effort that he's put into getting the most comprehensive account he can. He truly scoured the globe to interview anyone who was of importance to the story, which given the relative anonymity of many of the people involved, is very impressive. Incredibly the one man he struggled get an interview with is perhaps the most well-known, Carl Lewis who seems to have lived up to his reputation. His interview with Ben Johnson added a lot to the book as being able to hear first-hand from the man himself was very interesting, providing some great soundbites as well.
He delves between the sprinting history and drug-use history quite interchangeable, I found the sprinting history to be more engaging as the drug-use side of the story is still a bit murky even now. I also would have liked if the purpose of the particular drug's that were used and their benefits and side effects were better explained as it's still not clear exactly what makes them so powerful other than the obvious in that they are steroids. the two seemed different in so many ways Carl was hard-working eloquent arrogant and elegant with an incredible last forty metres. Johnson on other hand was laid-back, quite (maybe due to his stutter) and explosive out of blocks with a powerful running style.
The rivalry is perhaps the most captivating as it seems the two and their respective camps had genuine animosity towards each other. Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson were constantly making digs towards each other in the media and in private, even twenty years later, Johnson still seems to harbour a grudge towards him. Moore even explains a theory which accuses the Lewis camp of deliberately spiking Johnson's beer after Seoul using the 'mystery man' Andre Jackson although its uncertain how much of this is just bitterness on Johnson's part. Another aspect revealed was just how disliked Lewis was by his fellow runners I always got the impression Lewis was a cool-laid-back figure that would get along well with anyone, but interviews with his contemporaries show the disdain many like Christie, Wells and Stewart had for him.
Moore gives a more nuanced perspective then you'll find anywhere in the media Carl Lewis by his own reckoning and by the public was seen as the 'clean' guy going up against the cheat and trying to win but it's evident that Johnson isn't even close to being the only sprinter in that time tainted with drugs. In fact six of the eight Seoul finalists were caught at some point in their career of using drugs earning the race's name as the dirtiest in history, even Carl Lewis was caught using a PED but was latter cleared as having unknowingly taken them.
The story is quite an interesting example of just how far people can fall just by their reputation alone. after his 9.79 run Johnson was a world record holder Olympic medalist and soon-to-be multi-millionaire with a bright future in sprinting ahead. After he was caught, he was vilified in the press, abandoned by his country, banned from sprinting and by the time of Moore interviewing him bitter, relatively poor and forgotten. To think if he had started his drug cycle earlier he may have gone to the grave as an Olympic gold medalist and the first man to run sub 9.8 without anyone knowing otherwise.
Overall this is a fantastic look at the rivalry between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis and the use of drugs in Athletics. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in this period of sprinting.
August 5, 2015
So, so good. It read almost like a thriller. I'm left with lots of feelings and wanting to know more about doping in sports.
February 8, 2014
crazy read...hard to know who to believe...
January 3, 2022
Moore's book might be a little dated however it stands out as one of the best ever books I have read about sport, the Olympics and the problem of doping. Written with the intensity of a thriller 'The Dirtiest Race in History' is an excellent example of forensic non-fiction with a healthy swig of biographical epic thrown in. The tale of Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis and what went down at the 1988 Seoul Olympics is a fascinating one and Moore does his utmost to keep his reader transfixed by a history that is still remarkable. Before there was Lance Armstrong, before there was Russian doping bans, before there was Marion Jones, there was Johnson and Lewis and Moore's account surely must be the definitive one.
'The Dirtiest Race in History' succeeds because Moore is comprehensive in his efforts in tackling the saga that led up to what was the biggest doping crisis to hit modern sport. He doesn't just look at the race itself, nor at the two main figures in the story. There is much made of the wider ethos and environment that surrounded sport in the period, including the politics of the Olympics and the IAAF, the growing commericalism of amateur athletics and the myriad number of hangers-on and camp followers who formed the two sprinters' inner circles. Moore doesn't just rely on who did what and when, but he makes some effort to try and understand and explain the relevant psyches of Johnson and Lewis. The reader may not be given a perfect insight into the motivations and careers of controversial figures, however what is revealed or hypothesized rings true.
As said previously 'The Dirtiest Race in History' is very good in how it analyses the shifting nature of Olympic sport and international athletics in the 1980s. There is no doubt that the Olympic movement was in troubled waters before 1984, and whilst doping was part of the background it was not really as problematic as the existential crisis sport was going through. It took the perfect storm of an IOC led by Juan Antonio Samaranch, an IAAF led by Primo Nebiolo and big commercial interest in the US, Japan ands Europe to transform the shamateur world of Olympic sport into huge business. That in turn made sure that the events at Seoul were bound to happen and to shock sport to the core. One could expect and accept doping from the Communist East, however the fall out from Johnson's positive test gave all the boosters for professional athletics and Olympic sport in general a big problem to choke down. Moore is sure to present this context in full, and he is to be commended for doing so.
That Lewis and Johnson come out of this book as both flawed heroes, arguably the former only a bit less than the latter, is all down to Moore's narrative. It's a shame that Carl Lewis didn't give the author more personal access for his side of the story. Moore doesn't fall into the trap of making Lewis out as a clean-as-a-whistle hero; he is at times seen as calculating and provocative. Yet Moore also cites observations on how distate for Lewis had racist connotations. Johnson on the other hand is more complex, and whilst Moore doesn't subscribe to the theory of Ben being gulled into doping, he certainly has some sympathy for him. No one comes out of this book with reputations unsullied, however neither do they appear as pantomime villains.
In summary this is a fantastic book that pulls apart one of the most infamous episodes in modern sporting history. Anyone who loves sport, whichever type, will find something here to enjoy. 'The Dirtiest Race in History' will also appeal to the non-sports lover because at its heart Moore has a story about human ambitions and human failure.
'The Dirtiest Race in History' succeeds because Moore is comprehensive in his efforts in tackling the saga that led up to what was the biggest doping crisis to hit modern sport. He doesn't just look at the race itself, nor at the two main figures in the story. There is much made of the wider ethos and environment that surrounded sport in the period, including the politics of the Olympics and the IAAF, the growing commericalism of amateur athletics and the myriad number of hangers-on and camp followers who formed the two sprinters' inner circles. Moore doesn't just rely on who did what and when, but he makes some effort to try and understand and explain the relevant psyches of Johnson and Lewis. The reader may not be given a perfect insight into the motivations and careers of controversial figures, however what is revealed or hypothesized rings true.
As said previously 'The Dirtiest Race in History' is very good in how it analyses the shifting nature of Olympic sport and international athletics in the 1980s. There is no doubt that the Olympic movement was in troubled waters before 1984, and whilst doping was part of the background it was not really as problematic as the existential crisis sport was going through. It took the perfect storm of an IOC led by Juan Antonio Samaranch, an IAAF led by Primo Nebiolo and big commercial interest in the US, Japan ands Europe to transform the shamateur world of Olympic sport into huge business. That in turn made sure that the events at Seoul were bound to happen and to shock sport to the core. One could expect and accept doping from the Communist East, however the fall out from Johnson's positive test gave all the boosters for professional athletics and Olympic sport in general a big problem to choke down. Moore is sure to present this context in full, and he is to be commended for doing so.
That Lewis and Johnson come out of this book as both flawed heroes, arguably the former only a bit less than the latter, is all down to Moore's narrative. It's a shame that Carl Lewis didn't give the author more personal access for his side of the story. Moore doesn't fall into the trap of making Lewis out as a clean-as-a-whistle hero; he is at times seen as calculating and provocative. Yet Moore also cites observations on how distate for Lewis had racist connotations. Johnson on the other hand is more complex, and whilst Moore doesn't subscribe to the theory of Ben being gulled into doping, he certainly has some sympathy for him. No one comes out of this book with reputations unsullied, however neither do they appear as pantomime villains.
In summary this is a fantastic book that pulls apart one of the most infamous episodes in modern sporting history. Anyone who loves sport, whichever type, will find something here to enjoy. 'The Dirtiest Race in History' will also appeal to the non-sports lover because at its heart Moore has a story about human ambitions and human failure.
May 13, 2017
This is the second of Richard Moore's inquiries into the murky world of doping in sprinting and probably it is even better than "The Bolt Supremacy". He's aided for the most part by the presence of a smoking gun in the form of Ben Johnson's positive drugs test following his astonishing 9.79 in the 1988 Olympic 100m final.
Johnson's positive drugs test was perhaps the biggest story in modern Olympic history. Previously, the drugs cheats had been minor figures or Bulgarian weightlifters while, in general, sporting heavyweight figures avoided the disastrous consequences of a positive test. The question, then, becomes only whether the more established stars - where the money is - are better protected or not. Moore's answer is yes, and it's hard to disagree. Whether it's an entire safe containing the key to numerous positive drug tests at the 1984 Olympics going missing, or the testimony at the inquiry into Johnson's positive test revealing that multiple US competing athletes had been doped prior to competition, or the positive test of Johnson's arch rival Carl Lewis being hushed up based upon his testimony to having drunk some herbal tea before the test, drug cheats are everywhere in the narrative.
This casts Johnson as a tragic character, a man more sinned against than sinning. There is even a strong story in support of Johnson actually being doped by an associate of Carl Lewis before he took his test. Certainly it is fact that Andre Jackson, long time friend to the Lewis camp, was inexplicably photographed in the testing area handing Ben Johnson beers - eight of them, according to the man himself. As for Jackson, Moore tracked him down and Jackson refused him a denial, whatever the reason.
Not that Johnson was innocent - he's an admitted drugs cheat. His coach, however, insists that he tested positive for the wrong drugs...
In the end, what strikes most about this era is the lack of professionalism. Coaches were doping athletes experimentally, seeing what worked and what didn't based upon a sort of folksy pre-internet rumour mill. Johnson may have panicked at shaky form going into the tournament and doped during a visit to St.Kitts. There's no way to know, in the end.
But the exploration of possibilities and most of all the bitter rivalry between Lewis and Johnson is explored deftly here. I enjoyed every minute of this book, and the "boring bits" about the rules governing drug use just deepen the narrative in this case.
A sobering thought is that of the eight men who ran the most dramatic 100m race in history, six were labelled drug cheats, and that the cheats have become much better at what they do.
Johnson's positive drugs test was perhaps the biggest story in modern Olympic history. Previously, the drugs cheats had been minor figures or Bulgarian weightlifters while, in general, sporting heavyweight figures avoided the disastrous consequences of a positive test. The question, then, becomes only whether the more established stars - where the money is - are better protected or not. Moore's answer is yes, and it's hard to disagree. Whether it's an entire safe containing the key to numerous positive drug tests at the 1984 Olympics going missing, or the testimony at the inquiry into Johnson's positive test revealing that multiple US competing athletes had been doped prior to competition, or the positive test of Johnson's arch rival Carl Lewis being hushed up based upon his testimony to having drunk some herbal tea before the test, drug cheats are everywhere in the narrative.
This casts Johnson as a tragic character, a man more sinned against than sinning. There is even a strong story in support of Johnson actually being doped by an associate of Carl Lewis before he took his test. Certainly it is fact that Andre Jackson, long time friend to the Lewis camp, was inexplicably photographed in the testing area handing Ben Johnson beers - eight of them, according to the man himself. As for Jackson, Moore tracked him down and Jackson refused him a denial, whatever the reason.
Not that Johnson was innocent - he's an admitted drugs cheat. His coach, however, insists that he tested positive for the wrong drugs...
In the end, what strikes most about this era is the lack of professionalism. Coaches were doping athletes experimentally, seeing what worked and what didn't based upon a sort of folksy pre-internet rumour mill. Johnson may have panicked at shaky form going into the tournament and doped during a visit to St.Kitts. There's no way to know, in the end.
But the exploration of possibilities and most of all the bitter rivalry between Lewis and Johnson is explored deftly here. I enjoyed every minute of this book, and the "boring bits" about the rules governing drug use just deepen the narrative in this case.
A sobering thought is that of the eight men who ran the most dramatic 100m race in history, six were labelled drug cheats, and that the cheats have become much better at what they do.
August 30, 2024
Pretty solid sports biography. Moore does a good job of setting the scene and giving the reader enough context about Johnson and Lewis' backgrounds. The story of their rivalry is truly fascinating and continues to intrigue. Moore tries to depict both Johnson and Lewis fairly yet despite Lewis refusing an interview, I felt like he was the more interesting of the two characters. Johnson is presented as more jovial on the surface yet naive and sympathetically stuck in the past. On the other hand, Lewis is a drawn as a calculated enigma. This may be where the book suffers from having been published in 2012 but Jesus Christ did Lewis have to put up with a lot. You really gain the sense that he can't win - he's too effeminate, too arrogant and ultimately too black. , Lewis' story seemed more unfair to me. I felt myself saying leave the man alone and let him get on with it multiple times.
Some of the book suffered from some very contrived writing. Take this for example: "Johnson and Francis avoided one of the mistakes Mae by Lewis and Joe Douglas in Los Angeles. They made no attempt to present Johnson as a rival to Michael Jackson. Which was lucky. Jackson's recently released album... was Bad." Cringe
However doping continues to play a part in elite sport today - just look at the recent headlines with Sinner plaguing tennis. This is a topic that is far from over and the book feels as relevant as ever.
Some of the book suffered from some very contrived writing. Take this for example: "Johnson and Francis avoided one of the mistakes Mae by Lewis and Joe Douglas in Los Angeles. They made no attempt to present Johnson as a rival to Michael Jackson. Which was lucky. Jackson's recently released album... was Bad." Cringe
However doping continues to play a part in elite sport today - just look at the recent headlines with Sinner plaguing tennis. This is a topic that is far from over and the book feels as relevant as ever.
August 6, 2023
Олимпиадата в Сеул през 1988 г. остава в историята със своите допинг скандали. Най-запомнящото се състезание е финалът в бягането на 100 метра. Защитаващият титлата си Карл Люис се изправя срещу носителя на световния рекорд - Бен Джонсън. Канадецът Джонсън печели с феноменалното време от 9.79 и оставя конкурентите си далеч назад. Попитан още на стадиона кое е по-важно за него - златото или новия рекорд, той посочва медала, защото никой не може да му го отнеме. Но се оказва, че греши. Само няколко дни по-късно неговият допинг тест е положителен. Бен Джонсън е дисквалифициран и заклеймен като измамник от световната спортна общност.
Професионалните атлети са изправени пред изкушението да подобрят резултатите си чрез използване на забранени вещества. Някои се поддават, като смятат, че няма да бъдат хванати. Но контролът става все по-стриктен и положителният резултат слага край на бляскави кариери. Провинилите се губят всичко. Като при всяка скандална история и тук съществува конспиративна теория - за "мистериозен мъж", който предполагаемо е повлиял на дадената проба веднага след състезанието.
В книгата е отделено скромно внимание дори на българите Митко Гръблев и Ангел Генчев, чиито златни медали във вдигането на тежести също са отнети след положителен допинг тест. Елитните първенства се превръщат в "най-мръсното състезание", а крайният резултат понякога се решава не на финалната права, а от последващия лабораторнен резултат.
Професионалните атлети са изправени пред изкушението да подобрят резултатите си чрез използване на забранени вещества. Някои се поддават, като смятат, че няма да бъдат хванати. Но контролът става все по-стриктен и положителният резултат слага край на бляскави кариери. Провинилите се губят всичко. Като при всяка скандална история и тук съществува конспиративна теория - за "мистериозен мъж", който предполагаемо е повлиял на дадената проба веднага след състезанието.
В книгата е отделено скромно внимание дори на българите Митко Гръблев и Ангел Генчев, чиито златни медали във вдигането на тежести също са отнети след положителен допинг тест. Елитните първенства се превръщат в "най-мръсното състезание", а крайният резултат понякога се решава не на финалната права, а от последващия лабораторнен резултат.
July 14, 2024
A fascinating account on the infamous 1988 Seoul Olympics 100m final and all the events surrounding it before and after.
The book casts a vast array of people including the athletes themselves, the coaches, anti-doping personnel and even lawyers who were involved in the judicial proceedings following the 1988 final in which the initial winner Ben Johnson ultimately tested positive. Even his main rival Carl Lewis does not emerge completely unscathed.
Whilst the novel answers many questions in regard to the activities of these athletes, their coaches and the anti-doping movement, it is the questions that remain unanswered that remain the most intriguing. For instance, what really happened inside the doping control room while Ben Johnson was being tested following his triumph at Seoul continues to remain unanswered. Also, to what extent have the actions of these athletes discouraged or enabled the continued use of performance enhancing drugs in sport to the present day? My response would be that their actions have enabled their continued use as long as the perpetrators remain one step ahead of the testers and can continue to reap the benefits even if that carries the risk that they may sometimes be caught which as we know continues to occur to this day.
The book casts a vast array of people including the athletes themselves, the coaches, anti-doping personnel and even lawyers who were involved in the judicial proceedings following the 1988 final in which the initial winner Ben Johnson ultimately tested positive. Even his main rival Carl Lewis does not emerge completely unscathed.
Whilst the novel answers many questions in regard to the activities of these athletes, their coaches and the anti-doping movement, it is the questions that remain unanswered that remain the most intriguing. For instance, what really happened inside the doping control room while Ben Johnson was being tested following his triumph at Seoul continues to remain unanswered. Also, to what extent have the actions of these athletes discouraged or enabled the continued use of performance enhancing drugs in sport to the present day? My response would be that their actions have enabled their continued use as long as the perpetrators remain one step ahead of the testers and can continue to reap the benefits even if that carries the risk that they may sometimes be caught which as we know continues to occur to this day.
January 31, 2024
The Dirtiest Race in History is an account of the rivalry between the great American Olympian, Carl Lewis and Canadian hero Ben Johnson. Lewis -smooth, cool and image conscious, a brilliant long jumper and world leading sprinter. He was not universally loved, especially in the USA where the cool was interpreted as aloofness. Johnson was much more rough and ready, the underdog from the underdog nation. But Johnson took drugs and was caught. Lewis may also have taken drugs though the evidence is much less conclusive and he certainly wasn’t caught cheating in the most widely anticipated 100 metre final for a great many years.
Richard Moore had contact with all the key protagonists in this well-researched and very readable book. Lewis and Johnson are well presented and Johnson comes over as a more sympathetic character than I anticipated. He wasn’t over bright and was manipulated and exploited by those around him. But he was a cheat and he knew he was a cheat. And yet lost so much; money, medals, records and the respect of his countrymen that he cuts a poignant figure.
Richard Moore had contact with all the key protagonists in this well-researched and very readable book. Lewis and Johnson are well presented and Johnson comes over as a more sympathetic character than I anticipated. He wasn’t over bright and was manipulated and exploited by those around him. But he was a cheat and he knew he was a cheat. And yet lost so much; money, medals, records and the respect of his countrymen that he cuts a poignant figure.
June 15, 2024
A fantastic piece of sports journalism. The 100 metres final at the 1988 Seoul Olympics was a showdown between titans: American Carl Lewis who was seeking to become the first man to defend a 100m Olympic title and Ben Johnson, his Canadian challenger who had recently halted Lewis' dominance in the discipline.
We get information about the backgrounds of the two competitors, the rivalry, the race, the bombshell truth revelation and subsequent aftermath. It delves into the world of doping amongst elite professional athletes and the mindset about doing anything to win. With time, 6 of the 8 competitors of that race have tested positive to some sort of illicit substance, creating the moniker of "The Dirtiest Race in History." Johnson, however, remains the sole scapegoat and the face of scandal.
It remains one of the most infamous moments of Olympic history and provides some glimpses into the world of doping amongst elite athletes. Strongly recommend.
We get information about the backgrounds of the two competitors, the rivalry, the race, the bombshell truth revelation and subsequent aftermath. It delves into the world of doping amongst elite professional athletes and the mindset about doing anything to win. With time, 6 of the 8 competitors of that race have tested positive to some sort of illicit substance, creating the moniker of "The Dirtiest Race in History." Johnson, however, remains the sole scapegoat and the face of scandal.
It remains one of the most infamous moments of Olympic history and provides some glimpses into the world of doping amongst elite athletes. Strongly recommend.
February 4, 2024
I love a conspiracy and I love the title of fastest on the planet so this book sounded perfect.
Although alive at the time the 1988 Olympics would not have been something I was aware of but I still knew the names and was aware of fallout as it rumbled on for years to come.
The book details the build up, the Johnson vs Lewis rivalry and how much people wanted to win.
It shows how aware people were of the testing process and how easy it was to cheat it.
So the main outcomes from this should be all year round testing is a must there must be a willingness to stamp this out by the powers that be.
Interesting book overall and although Johnson may have been spiked to be caught he was certainly guilty and hopefully prevented others following his path in future.
Although alive at the time the 1988 Olympics would not have been something I was aware of but I still knew the names and was aware of fallout as it rumbled on for years to come.
The book details the build up, the Johnson vs Lewis rivalry and how much people wanted to win.
It shows how aware people were of the testing process and how easy it was to cheat it.
So the main outcomes from this should be all year round testing is a must there must be a willingness to stamp this out by the powers that be.
Interesting book overall and although Johnson may have been spiked to be caught he was certainly guilty and hopefully prevented others following his path in future.
October 26, 2017
This was the race of my childhood. I re-call a group of us staying over in a friends house setting our alarms to watch the race. We must have been around 11. Of course we tried to stay up all night but fell asleep 30 mins before the race and missed it. We say it on the news over our breakfast and was still as amazing as we watched it live. What a build up and what a race. Who know the background to the cheating. So if this is you memory of this race then perhaps you are best to keep the innocence and not read this book. After Lance Armstrong , the Russians and the Olympics itself this is another book that just leaves a whole in my hearth about the cheating in sport.
October 23, 2018
Not the normal type of thing I read but a study of drug use in cycling somehow led me to discovering this book. I do remember the race and watching it at the time and this book describes the story in refreshing detail. I think we all knew at the time that Johnson wasn’t the only doper and squeaky clean Lewis looked suspect as did Christie. The novel seems to blot everyone’s copybook and rightly so thank god that age of blind ignorance and believe in ‘clean’ Olympic athletes has come to an end. Although a few modern day winners still seem to dip under the radar.
February 23, 2024
When you title a book "The Dirtiest Race in History" and the summary mentions how almost every runner in the 100m Olympic final ended up testing positive, I expect the book to be more about the steroid use and less a general biography about Ben Johnson. His entire steroid story was about one chapter, with all the other runners getting maybe a couple sentences about their steroid use. I guess maybe it's my fault, but I really didn't expect the bulk of the book to be about Ben Johnson's training regimens and how the press thought Carl Lewis was gay.
August 21, 2025
A fascinatingly detailed book telling a story of a race that I remember watching on television as a small child. I have no interest in athletes who were dirty and the excuse that everyone was doing it is in my view pathetic. I loved the judgemental-less investigation into the main protagonists of the story and the revelations through time. I particularly liked the comparison between Lewis and Johnson after the race.
I would recommend this to anybody interested in sports or who remembers the Olympics from those eras
I would recommend this to anybody interested in sports or who remembers the Olympics from those eras
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