Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Na Julaị 29, Johnson ji ọsọ weghara aha asọmpi 400 m n'ụzọ dị mfe site n'iji oge 43.49 sekọnd mee ihe dị ka ihe ndekọ n'egwuregwu Olimpik, sekọnd 0.92 n'ihu onye mmeri ọlaọcha Roger Black nke Great Britain. Na 200 m ikpeazụ na August 1, Johnson gbara ọsọ mmalite 100 mita na 10.12 sekọnd ma mechie ọsọ ahụ na oge ndekọ ụwa nke 19.32 sekọnd, na-agbaji ihe karịrị atọ nke iri nke abụọ nke ndekọ mbụ o setịpụrụ na U.S. Olympic Trials, n'otu ụzọ ahụ otu ọnwa gara aga - nnukwu mmụba ọ bụla na ndekọ ụwa 200 m. Ụfọdụ ndị na-ekwu okwu jiri ihe ahụ o mere tụnyere ihe Bob Beamon mere n'egwuregwu Olimpik nke 1968 e mere na Mexico City. N'oge ọsọ ahụ, Johnson merụrụ akwara n'ụkwụ ya, nke gbochiri ya inweta ihe nrite ọlaedo nke atọ ya n'egwuregwu Olimpik na
4 × 400 m relay dịka Team USA gara n'ihu merie ọla edo ọbụlagodi na-enweghị ya.