What most of us thought appears to be true. There is something odd about Michael Johnson. Space age technology is, in fact, turning Johnson into the Bionic Man.

Fans can log on to the internet to get a detailed report on what happens to Johnson physically during a race, thanks to miniature sensors worn on his body that transmit data about his heart rate, stride length and stride rate. "I know from watching sprints myself, it looks like the gun goes off and we run as fast as we can," said the Olympic champion and world record-holder in both the 200 and 400 metres. "This shows there's more to it than that."

The data, produced so far only from 400 metre races, clearly shows Johnson's acceleration phase, as well as points of relaxation and deceleration during a race. When he won the 400 metres final at the US Olympic Trials last week, cruising unchallenged across the line, Johnson's heart rate didn't peak until after the finish.

"That could very well have to do with the excitement of knowing I'm on the Olympic team," he said in an unusual fit of false modesty. Two small sensors and a tiny circuit board that runs on a watch battery are taped to Johnson's chest before the race. His unitard also helps to hold them in place.