August 1st 1996, Olympic Stadium, Atlanta. I was recently reminded that like your first love, you never forget your first Olympics and mine was in Atlanta in 1996.

And I will never forget Michael Johnson.

He entered the Olympic Stadium on that hot balmy night in a pair of custom-designed gold-colored Nike running spikes which immediately caught my attention. He then earned the nickname, 'The man with the Golden shoes" and actually the left shoe was half a size smaller than the right accounting for Johnson's smaller left foot - perhaps that is why he ran so fast around the bends.

As a photographer I was captivated by Johnson's unique running style. With his upright and rigid stance, head slightly back and the very short steps defied perceived wisdom that hight knee lift or long strides were essential for maximum speed. During the 200 Meters final Johnson ran the opening 100 meters in 10.12 seconds and achieved a peak speed of over 25mph!

Multimedia

• Simon Barnes in Beijing

• Bring back the tug-of-war

• Top 100 Olympic athletes of all time

Back to reality for golden generation

Olympic heroes will discover if the last 17 days has been a life-changing experience or a glorious but brief interlude

• Team GB to be rewarded with gold for gold

• Hard work starts now as British sailors look towards London 2012

• Public support gained from success in Beijing needs to last four years

BACKGROUND

• How the Brits became world beaters

• London double-decker arrives in Beijing

• Olympics proves capacity for greatness

• New dawn for British sport as Olympic sun sets

Related Links

• Faster, higher, stronger: five marvellous moments

• Olympic timeline

The British press pack of photographers were focusing on our very own Roger Black but the American photographers had secured all the best spots head-on to the finish line and we had to make do with finding places to train our lenses wherever we could.

I found a place high up on the main photographers stand overlooking the finish line whilst my friend and colleague from the Sun, Richard Pelham went to the moat circling the track and found a spot a long way past the finish line.

With a Nikon film camera and a 300mm lens Richard hardly saw Johnson cross the line such was his poor position, but as Johnson looked over at the timing board which was frozen at a World record time of 19.32 he ran around the track and this stunning and unique image was captured.

Of all the photographers present that night this was the defining moment captured at a 500th of a second. The film was processed that night and only a photographer can understand the high of looking through a magnifying glass at a beautifully composed, sharp and iconic picture, which for me this picture surely is.

We were all in-situ in Beijing 12 years later when Usain Bolt broke Johnson's record with a stunning time of 19.30 seconds but nothing for me will eclipse the beauty of Michael Johnson in Atlanta and Richard Pelham's stunning picture.