Canadian rival Donovan Bailey had won the blue riband 100m in a new world record of 9.84 ( an improvement of 100th of a second ) .
It was the sheer magnitude of the feat which elevated Johnson to the pantheon of the true greats .
Canadian rival Donovan Bailey had won the blue riband 100m in a new world record of 9.84 ( an improvement of 100th of a second ) but it was the sheer magnitude of the feat which elevated Johnson to the pantheon of the true greats .