Ben+Johnson+and+Carl+Lewis+and+1988+Olympics--8th

Home Civil Society Defined Great Man Continuum

1980's Topics 8th Period

Ben Johnson, Carl Lewis, 1988 Olympics Reyna Lusson


 * [[image:ben-johnson7.jpg width="367" height="246" caption="Ben Johnson ("HIOX")"]] || [[image:lewis1.jpg width="414" height="243" caption="Carl Lewis ("Fitness with Carl Lewis")"]] ||
 * [[image:2004081400940401.jpg width="379" height="268" caption="Lewis and Johnson shake hands ("Johnson and Lewis")"]] || [[image:url.jpg width="377" height="274" caption="Lewis and Johnson finishing the 100 meter dash at the 1988 Olympics ("Olympic Countdown")"]] ||

Task One

The 1988 Seoul Summer Olympic Games was a time for Communist and anti-Communists nations alike to join as one for the first time since the cold war. Both The 1980 and the 1984 Olympics were boycotted. But in Seoul, countries pushed politics aside and met in South Korea to enjoy the simple pleasure that sports provided. The 1988 Olympics represent an acceptance of differences, and a worldwide unity that we can still see today. Though America did not do great as a whole, a scandal involving Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson made the 88 Olympics unforgettable.

Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson were famous sprinters, two of the fastest 100 meter dashers in the history, but they disgraced themselves and America at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics when they were caught using steroids. Canadian Ben Johnson beat American rival Carl Lewis with the astonishing time of 9.79 seconds, but was stripped of his gold medal when drug tests came out positive with heavy stanozolol (steroid) use; he was banned for 2 years, and later banned for life in 1993 after getting caught again for the same offense. Johnson may have been caught at the Olympic Games, but “ Lewis should not have been allowed to run in Seoul… because [he] tested positive for a banned substance at the U.S. Track and Field Trials earlier that summer” (The Scold). Lewis and Johnson weren’t the only ones using steroids—Lewis was one of “hundreds of American athletes who were allowed to escape bans” (Mackay). The decision to use steroids harmed both Lewis and Johnson’s running careers, family lives, and heath for the rest of their lives.

Lewis and Johnson disappointed their many fans from their home countries, causing people to become from suspicious about drug use. Both men were regarded as heroes, and two of the greatest athletes in the world. When people on the 80s discovered that these seemingly truthful men had used steroids, and then lied about it, they began to suspect the same from other athletes. Drug testing became more common and accepted. //The Chicago Defender// expressed the view of many Americans when they stated that “what used to be our pride and joy has been turned into an unseemly affair full of a bunch of cheats who are willing to sacrifice their reputations, and even their bodies, in order to gain a slight edge” (The Chicago Defender). Lewis and Johnson created a more Cynical America when they cheated themselves and their country through the use of drugs.

Task Two

Although the legacy of Lewis and Johnson were not widespread or lasting, the effects can still be seen today in the 21st century. Steroid use certainly isn’t a new phenomenon—men have been using performance-enhancing drugs since the beginning of time. As Stephan Brunt comments, “ he did it for the same reason so many other athletes use performance-enhancing drugs: they work” (Brunt).  What was changed, however, was the science behind drug testing. Until the 80s drug testing was uncommon and unsophisticated, but as steroid use spiked, accommodations were made. Lewis and Johnson are just two of the many athletes whose steroid use convinced people that stricter and more accurate drug testing was a necessity for the Olympic Games.

Not everyone was influenced by the Lewis and Johnson scandal, but the trusting sports fanatics were shocked and disappointed. Lewis and Johnson were “ hailed as national heroes” across America and Canada, and their drug use made Americans more suspicious of athletes (Kaminsky).  It was a shock to discover that a person who seemed so trustworthy was, in fact, not to be trusted at all. As Morrison of the //Northern Echo// remembers, “ we were confronted with the shock of seeing the winner exposed as a drugs cheat” (Morrison). In general, people became more cynical and less trusting of athletes after the Lewis and Johnson scandal. In conclusion, the shock of finding cheaters made American fans less trusting of athletes and prompted more scientific and methodical drug testing among athletes that has carried over into the 21st century.

<span style="background-color: #9008b6; color: #b6dce8; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 20px; text-align: left;">Task Three

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 110%;">The drama of the 88 Olympics and the rise of steroid use birthed the Johnson and Lewis scandal. An event as televised and anticipated as the Seoul Olympics was bound for drama, and drama it produced when Ben Johnson of Canada was caught using steroids on the world’s biggest stage. In addition to the hype that seemed to constantly surround the’88 Olympics, steroid use was on the rise in the 1980s. Running was only one of the many sports who became dominated by steroid use; a study found that “More than 20 percent (20.3) of NFL players in the 1980s used steroids” (Winn). People were simply less aware of long-term effects of steroids. Author <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Matt Chaney reflects on 80s steroid use by stating, “Back then, nobody had a clue” (Chaney). High steroid use among athletes and a highly publicized Olympic Games produced the Johnson-Lewis scandal.

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 110%;">The Lewis-Johnson scandal was a big deal for sports fanatics in 1988, but the long-term effects were minimal. The running fans of the day ask the same question about Johnson's victory as many ask about JFK assassination: where were you when you got the news? For the average person, however, the significance of the event was short-term. Being the most hyped up and televised Olympics, the news of the scandal spread quickly. Immediate effects and reactions were very wide-spread—people were shocked and disappointed, and the event was big news. After the 80s, however, most people forgot Lewis and Johnson, and nothing was changed in the long-run. In other words, the accomplishment was significant with a broad influence and impact on daily life, however the legacy wasn't lasting. PTI's Michael Wilbon states that "If you're 20 years old, you don't even remember what an enormous event this was..." (“Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis”). With little current legacy, the event is remembered by few; the scandal is brushed aside and forgotten in terms of sports history.


 * Great Man Criteria || ** 5=long-run ** || ** 4=wide-spread ** || ** 3=moderate ** || ** 2=short run ** || ** 1=little effect ** || ** 0=not at all ** ||
 * ** SIGNIFICANCE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT ** ||  ||   || x ||   ||   ||   ||
 * ** ENDURANCE OF LEGACY ** ||  ||   || x ||   ||   ||   ||
 * ** EXTENT OF INFLUENCE ** ||  ||   || x ||   ||   ||   ||
 * ** IMPACT ON DAILY LIFE ** ||  ||   ||   ||   || x ||   ||

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: center;">Great Man Continuum

<span style="background-color: #b6dce8; color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Great --Event Making --Eventful x--Social <span style="background-color: #b6dce8; color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Men -Hero ---Hero Determinism

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">**Citation:**

//"Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis."// Let'sRun.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2012. <http://www.letsrun.com>.//


 * Brunt, Stephen. "Unforgiven: drugs or no drugs, the greatest Canadian athlete of the 20th century was the world's fastest man. Isn't it...."** //**Toronto Life**//. 01 Mar. 2000: 60. //**eLibrary**//. Web. 11 Mar. 2012.

Chaney, Matt. //The 1980s: Steroid Juicers Rule NFL Jungle//. N.p., 14 May 2009.Web. 25 Mar. 2012. <http://blog.4wallspublishing.com>.

//"Fitness with Carl Lewis."// Kale University//. Kale U., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2012.<http://kaleuniversity.org>.//

//HIOX INDIA, prod. "Ben Johnson."// With Friendship//. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2012.<http://withfriendship.com>.//

Johnson and Lewis//. 1988. "Young World."// Hindu //14 Aug. 2004: n. pag.// The Hindu//.N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2012. <http://www.hindu.com>.//


 * Kaminsky, Marty. "NO Steroids."** //**Boys' Life**//. 01 Jun. 2005: 40. //**eLibrary**//. Web. 11 Mar. 2012.


 * Mackay, Duncan. "Lewis: 'Who cares I failed drug test?.'"** //**TheGuardian**//. N.p., 23**Apr. 2003. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. <http://www.guardian.com>.**


 * Morrison, Nick. "How drugs killed our sporting dream."** //**Northern Echo**//. 23 Oct. 2003: 14. //**eLibrary**//. Web. 11 Mar. 2012.

//"Olympic Countdown."// BBC Sport//. British Broadcasting Corporation, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2012. <http://\www.bbc.co.uk>.


 * "The Scold."** //**New York Times Magazine**//. 07 Jan. 2007 //**eLibrary**//. Web. 11 Mar. 2012.


 * "U.S. track athletes shame America."** //**Chicago Defender**//. 21 Jul. 2004: 10. //**eLibrary**//. Web. 11 Mar. 2012.

Winn, Pete. "Study Finds 1 in 5 NFL Players in ‘80s Used Steroids." //Csnnews.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2012. <http://www.cnsnews.com>.//

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">**Holistic Rubric for all 3 Tasks**

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">**A quality topic post for the 1980s assignment will**
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Arrange Media to enhance and extend the significance of the topic to the 1980s decade.
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Support the main idea in each paragraph with evidence from 3 different sources.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Select only signed sources from the LC databases.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Establish the credibility of the author the first time a source is referenced.
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Credit sources with internal citations, ( Author's Last Name).
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">List all 7 sources alphabetically in the Works Cited. Format in MLA style. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Remove Web Address.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Complete Great Man Continuum and Table.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Justify the placement of your topic on the continuum using the evidence from the 7 sources to support your analysis of the 4 criteria.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Answer the prompts for all 3 tasks and the research question thoughtfully and thoroughly.