--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wouldn't know who Michael Johnson was…" description: "\"I wouldn't know who Michael Johnson was if he didn't run fast times.\" — Christian Coleman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/christian-coleman-9131_fast_i-wouldn-t-know-who-michael-johnson-was_765984.jpg" --- # I wouldn't know who Michael Johnson was if he didn't run… ![“I wouldn't know who Michael Johnson was if he didn't run fast times.” quote by Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/christian-coleman-9131_fast_i-wouldn-t-know-who-michael-johnson-was_765984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/christian-coleman-9131_fast_i-wouldn-t-know-who-michael-johnson-was_765984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/christian-coleman-9131_fast_i-wouldn-t-know-who-michael-johnson-was_765984.jpg) > “I wouldn't know who Michael Johnson was if he didn't run fast times.” [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal identity can be tied to achievements, making recognition dependent on performance. **In simple terms:** Identity linked to success. Key Takeaway Separate self‑worth from accolades. Themes sports identity achievement Mood reflective empathetic Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - career planning - mental health counseling - media interviews Key Concepts self‑esteem public perception Questions to Reflect On - How can athletes maintain self‑value beyond sport? - What support helps decouple identity from performance? A Different Perspective May ignore other identity facets. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fast/) [Fast times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fast-times/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Johnson Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/johnson-didn-253789/) [Know Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-michael-1804206/) [Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/michael/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/michael-johnson-4983507/) [Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/run/) [Run Fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/run-fast/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [Michael Johnson doesn't pay my bills or sign my cheques. So I don't really care what he has to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/michael-johnson-doesn-t-pay-my-bills-or-sign-my-cheques-so-i-don-t/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [I know Michael Chandler. I know his potential. He's very explosive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricio-freire/i-know-michael-chandler-i-know-his-potential-he-s-very-explosive/) [Patricio Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricio-freire/) > [You need to be grounded internally and excited about the world around you. If I were out of touch, it would be hard for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-snider/you-need-to-be-grounded-internally-and-excited-about-the-world-around/) [Stacey Snider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-snider/) > [I looked up to Don Quarrie and Michael Johnson when I was younger. They were the best in the 200m which was my main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usain-bolt/i-looked-up-to-don-quarrie-and-michael-johnson-when-i-was-younger/) [Usain Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usain-bolt/) > [I don't like Jeremy Corbyn, I don't like Boris Johnson, I didn't trust either of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-don-t-like-jeremy-corbyn-i-don-t-like-boris-johnson-i-didn-t-trust/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [Magic Johnson didn't play the style that Larry Bird did, and Michael Jordan sure didn't play the style that Magic or Bird played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/magic-johnson-didn-t-play-the-style-that-larry-bird-did-and-michael/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [Robert Johnson? No, I didn't know him, personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/robert-johnson-no-i-didn-t-know-him-personally/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [For me, I just love running in the big moments. That's always been the way. That is what you work so hard for. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/for-me-i-just-love-running-in-the-big-moments-that-s-always-been-the/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [Growing up, I was surrounded by music by the Stones, Carole King, and the Beach Boys. I didn't know who Michael Jackson was till…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ophelia-lovibond/growing-up-i-was-surrounded-by-music-by-the-stones-carole-king-and/) [Ophelia Lovibond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ophelia-lovibond/) > [I don't even know who Michael Chandler is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-cerrone/i-don-t-even-know-who-michael-chandler-is/) [Donald Cerrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-cerrone/) > [I love the idea of being on stage and people thinking they know who Michael Ball is, they've got an image and then not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-love-the-idea-of-being-on-stage-and-people-thinking-they-know-who/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [The first thing I do is let people know I'm not Ving Rhames. Once I do that, everything else is cool. Every place I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clark-duncan/the-first-thing-i-do-is-let-people-know-i-m-not-ving-rhames-once-i-do/) [Michael Clark Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clark-duncan/) > [I know everything about Michael Jordan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-lavine/i-know-everything-about-michael-jordan/) [Zach LaVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-lavine/) > [Do you know, Michael, he was - he touched the hearts of many people around the world. That's important. That's why the world cried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-jackson/do-you-know-michael-he-was-he-touched-the-hearts-of-many-people/) [Jermaine Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-jackson/) > [You are free, you just don't know it" ~Michael to Sarah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/you-are-free-you-just-don-t-know-it-michael-to-sarah/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) ## More by Christian Coleman > [I just love this sport and it's so competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/i-just-love-this-sport-and-it-s-so-competitive/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [There are so many guys that they are talking about that may be the 'next one' or may be the next Bolt. That whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/there-are-so-many-guys-that-they-are-talking-about-that-may-be-the/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [Coming from the south side of Atlanta, Georgia, everyone has a chip on their shoulder. That's how competitive it is. It makes athletes great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/coming-from-the-south-side-of-atlanta-georgia-everyone-has-a-chip-on/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [Every time you get an opportunity to be around your loved ones, cherish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/every-time-you-get-an-opportunity-to-be-around-your-loved-ones/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [I love running in Britain. It has always been good for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/i-love-running-in-britain-it-has-always-been-good-for-me/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [When I look back at my career, I want to say I accomplished certain things and ran certain times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/when-i-look-back-at-my-career-i-want-to-say-i-accomplished-certain/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [The thing you're working so hard for are milliseconds. Saving a 10th of a second from 9.82 to 9.72 is huge. There are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/the-thing-you-re-working-so-hard-for-are-milliseconds-saving-a-10th/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [In track and field, a lot of people don't make a lot of money, so if you're a lower name you might just get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/in-track-and-field-a-lot-of-people-don-t-make-a-lot-of-money-so-if/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [Before, when Bolt was in the race, it was about who's going to get second. You just come and want to watch Bolt run,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/before-when-bolt-was-in-the-race-it-was-about-who-s-going-to-get/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [I just treat every race the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/i-just-treat-every-race-the-same/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [Winning the Diamond League with a personal record, it's like icing on the cake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/winning-the-diamond-league-with-a-personal-record-it-s-like-icing-on/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [I'm just a regular guy, I just happen to be really talented, and I have a gift from God that I've worked really hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/i-m-just-a-regular-guy-i-just-happen-to-be-really-talented-and-i-have/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [To be looked up to as one of the Americans that's supposed to carry the torch, go to the major championships and get medals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/to-be-looked-up-to-as-one-of-the-americans-that-s-supposed-to-carry/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [There's always stuff you can improve on. Even when you do something right you can always try to go out and do something better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/there-s-always-stuff-you-can-improve-on-even-when-you-do-something/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [I have that mindset going into anything I do, there's always room to improve, you can always do better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/i-have-that-mindset-going-into-anything-i-do-there-s-always-room-to/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) [Explore all 75 Christian Coleman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) ## More Fast quotes > [By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-murdock/by-eating-many-fruits-and-vegetables-in-place-of-fast-food-and-junk/) [David H. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-murdock/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [Skiing fast feels like complete freedom to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kt-tunstall/skiing-fast-feels-like-complete-freedom-to-me/) [KT Tunstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kt-tunstall/) > [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [Learning how to rap actually improved my English, because it forced me to talk fast, and I used to suck at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-brian/learning-how-to-rap-actually-improved-my-english-because-it-forced-me/) [Rich Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-brian/) > [Normally, it's more efficient to climb fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ondra/normally-it-s-more-efficient-to-climb-fast/) [Adam Ondra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ondra/) > [“There’s only one piece of clothing I could eat fast, and that’s a scarf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/there-s-only-one-piece-of-clothing-i-could-eat-fast-and-that-s-a-scarf/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I have a lot of adrenaline. I have a naturally fast system. But I love to eat, and I am not skinny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/i-have-a-lot-of-adrenaline-i-have-a-naturally-fast-system-but-i-love/) [Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/) > [Art is fast, but with art you're tied down. That's too negative. What I mean is, you have a business and a place that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-arcangel/art-is-fast-but-with-art-you-re-tied-down-that-s-too-negative-what-i/) [Cory Arcangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-arcangel/) > [I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-m-too-fast-i-m-too-smart-i-m-too-pretty/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Now your world is way to fast, nothing is real and nothing lasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goo-goo-dolls/now-your-world-is-way-to-fast-nothing-is-real-and-nothing-lasts/) [Goo Goo Dolls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goo-goo-dolls/) > [What I look for in a script is something that challenges me, something that breaks new ground, something that allows me to flex my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bay/what-i-look-for-in-a-script-is-something-that-challenges-me-something/) [Michael Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bay/) > [New York is so serious about the creation of work. Everything is happening so fast, it feels like there's another studio, another session on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/new-york-is-so-serious-about-the-creation-of-work-everything-is/) [Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/) [Browse all 1,991 Fast quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fast/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wouldn't know who Michael Johnson was if he didn't run fast times.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christian Coleman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/i-wouldn-t-know-who-michael-johnson-was-if-he-didn-t-run-fast-times/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fast" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/i-wouldn-t-know-who-michael-johnson-was-if-he-didn-t-run-fast-times/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/christian-coleman-9131_fast_i-wouldn-t-know-who-michael-johnson-was_765984.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/christian-coleman-9131_fast_i-wouldn-t-know-who-michael-johnson-was_765984.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/christian-coleman-9131_fast_i-wouldn-t-know-who-michael-johnson-was_765984.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I wouldn't know who Michael Johnson was if he didn't run fast times.” — Christian Coleman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Christian Coleman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I wouldn't know who Michael Johnson...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/i-wouldn-t-know-who-michael-johnson-was-if-he-didn-t-run-fast-times/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/i-wouldn-t-know-who-michael-johnson-was-if-he-didn-t-run-fast-times/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```