Many people, especially Nigerians, are definitely unhappy with American Olympic legend Michael Johnson after he tweeted about the timing of the 100 meters hurdles event of the World Athletics Championship.
In a two-tweet thread, the 54-year-old who won four Olympic golds and eight World Championship golds doubted the accuracy of the clock.
I don’t believe 100h times are correct. World record broken by .08! 12 PBs set. 5 National records set. And Cindy Sember quote after her PB/NR “I throughly I was running slow!” All athletes looked shocked.
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) July 25, 2022
Interestingly, Nigerian athlete Tobi Amusan set records in the same event that Johnson questioned.
She first set an African record in Heat 1 of the 100-meter hurdles, then broke the world record in the semi-finals, before breaking her own new world record in a time of 12.12 seconds in the final.
Congratulations to Tobi Amusan @Evaglobal01, first Nigerian to win gold in the history of the World Athletics Championships, and for breaking the women’s 100m hurdles world record in the semi-finals.
— 'Fisayo Soyombo (@fisayosoyombo) July 25, 2022
Thank you for making Nigeria proud. May your tears of joy never run dry! pic.twitter.com/fG3oN3umUm
It was 1:37 am Nigerian time when Johnson tweeted, and some persons knew what was coming when the whole of Nigeria woke up, so they had him prepare to take it all in.
You have roughly two hours before you feel the wrath of Nigeria twitter.
— DOZIE 🌸 (@Laxix6) July 25, 2022
Good luck. https://t.co/lCi1X3AZVQ
Nigerians are still preparing for their day...Don't worry, let them get settled for the day.. https://t.co/LmbCMl1lv6
— PAPA WEMBA (@lexyy4real) July 25, 2022
Soon enough, the tweets rained.
No, they poured.
Some “tweeps” accused him of being a racist, while others thought he was biased.
Once a black woman from Africa achieves greatness and you are instinctively suspicious, you need to do some introspection and seriously query where that comes from. Shame on you @MJGold. Congrats Tobi Amusan. 2022 100m World Champion AND World Record Holder💥 pic.twitter.com/UtBKn7uvTt
— Nnamdi Ezeanochie (@NnamdiEzeanoch1) July 25, 2022
Move along @MJGold
— Olugbenga Koya (@gbengakoya) July 25, 2022
I am still a huge fan but sometimes your commentary seemed too biased. I was suprised you went along with Burrel calling the Mixed 4 x 400m a stupid event, just because the US was soundly beaten.
Leroy the "one-hit' wonder https://t.co/sQ5H6nejF2
So the problem here is that you did not expect her to break it? But when people you expect to break it break it, the timing system is fine. Make this make sense. @MJGold https://t.co/zSaS15KsVF
— Tanna (@tannaknowsball) July 25, 2022
I'm disappointed in you sir, when Americans were breaking world records you didn't raise any eyes, but now it's an African turn then there is a problem, you forgotten your skin color so fast 😒 https://t.co/oi1otLycIh
— Deoluwani💡📸 (@Deoluojo) July 25, 2022
There were outright insults, some of which we cannot put up here.
While Johnson was being condemned by Nigerians, a journalist, @deejayfaremi tweeted that the attacks were unfair.
He said Johnson was only doing his job as a commentator.
Michael Johnson is being unfairly attacked. It’s his job as a commentator to talk about everything that’s worth commenting on, like outrageous times - even if correct, wind assisted times, world records etc.
— Deji Faremi (@deejayfaremi) July 25, 2022
In another tweet, the American athlete said he had moved on.
As a commentator my job is to comment. In questioning the times of 28 athletes (not 1 athlete) by wondering if the timing system malfunctioned, I was attacked, accused of racism, and of questioning the talent of an athlete I respect and predicted to win. Unacceptable. I move on.
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) July 25, 2022
Ghanaian Sports Journalist, Juliet Bawuah and her colleague had this to say about Nigerian Twitter and Michael Johnson.
Nigeria Twitter and Michael Johnson. A real battle. Too early to begin the week like this. Lol
— Juliet Bawuah (@julietbawuah) July 25, 2022
Lol Michael Johnson tried to question Tobi Amusan’s world record and our Nigerian siblings are not having it. Monday morning twitter war in full pelt.
— Yaw (@theyawofosu) July 25, 2022
