On August 8th in sports history, one significant event took place in 1988 during the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. It was on this day that the men's 100-meter dash final was held, and the race became one of the most controversial and talked-about events in Olympic history.
Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson lined up in lane 6, next to his rival, Carl Lewis of the United States. Johnson had been the favorite going into the race, having set a new world record of 9.83 seconds earlier that year.
When the gun went off, Johnson exploded out of the blocks and powered down the track, leaving the rest of the field behind. He crossed the finish line in a phenomenal time of 9.79 seconds, shattering his own world record. The crowd erupted in cheers as Johnson took a victory lap, basking in the glory of his incredible achievement.
However, the celebration was short-lived. Just three days later, it was announced that Johnson had tested positive for stanozolol, a banned performance-enhancing substance. He was promptly disqualified, stripped of his medal and world record, and sent home from the Olympics in disgrace.
The gold medal was then awarded to Carl Lewis, who had finished second in the race with a time of 9.92 seconds. This was the second of Lewis's eventual four gold medals at the 1988 Olympics.
The Ben Johnson doping scandal sent shockwaves through the sports world and remains one of the most high-profile cases of doping in Olympic history. It led to increased efforts to catch and prevent drug cheats, and it forever tarnished Johnson's legacy as one of the greatest sprinters of all time. Despite this, the 1988 men's 100-meter final remains a defining moment in sports history, one that will never be forgotten.
