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Men of the Millenium

Ben Johnson (Canada) 1961-

In the biggest scandal to hit the Olympic movement, Ben Johnson was sent home in disgrace from the 1988 Seoul Olympics after failing a drugs test.

The powerful Canadian, with the torso of a bodybuilder, had tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol after winning the 100 metres final in world record time.

He later confessed to taking drugs since 1981 and, after serving an initial two-year suspension, was banned for life in 1993 for another positive test.

Johnson consistently maintained he was only one of many track athletes to take drugs and his attempts to win reinstatement made him a continued embarrassment to the world governing body.

Duke Kahanamoku (US), 1890-1968

Primarily famous for introducing the Polynesian sport of surfing to the world, Duke Kahanamoku was also one of the great Olympic freestylers.

The strapping Hawaiian won gold medals for the United States over the 100 metres at the 1912 and 1920 Olympics before losing to Johnny Weissmuller at the 1924 Paris Games.

He emulated Weissmuller by moving to Hollywood and played minor roles in 28 films while promulgating surfing around the world.

Kahanamoku founded the first Hawaiian surfing club, converted Australians to his lifelong passion with a masterly exhibition on Manly Beach in Sydney and saved eight passengers with his surfboard when a luxury yacht capsized at Newport Beach, California, in 1925.