The 100-meter Dash

THE 100-METER DASH stands out as the marquee event at track meets. Sprinters race at speeds of more than 20 mph, trying to reach the finish line first. The 100 meters at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul proved to be one of the most memorable races ever . . . but not for a positive reason.

The world’s fastest athletes gathered at the starting line in South Korea, poised to make Olympic history. At the gun, Canada’s Ben Johnson bolted from the line and blistered down the track in a world- and Olympic-record time of 9.79. Muscles bulging and veins popping, Johnson beat second-place finisher Carl Lewis by a surprising .13 seconds, which is an eternity in a sprint. Lewis’ time of 9.92 also bettered the previous Olympic record.

But the surprises weren’t over. Just 62 hours after the completion of the race, Olympic officials entered Johnson’s room and walked out with his gold medal. Johnson had tested positive for steroids—a performance-enhancing drug banned by the Olympics and many professional sports. As it turned out, Johnson had been using the drugs for six years before he was caught breaking the rules.

With Johnson disqualified, Lewis took home the gold. Great Britain’s Linford Christie claimed silver, and USA’s Calvin Smith earned bronze.

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POINT Ben Johnson was willing to do whatever it took to win—even if it meant breaking the rules and risking his health. He tried to control his own destiny and win Olympic gold. But instead he lost his prize medal and was shown all over the world to be a cheater.

If we take an honest look at our life, we spend a lot of time trying to control situations. We try to control getting good grades by sneaking a peak at our neighbor’s paper. We control our relationships by not showing our true selves to others. But whenever we think we’ve gained an edge, we discover we’ve made a terrible mistake.

Although we’re children of God, the devil controls the world. Sometimes he gives us a false sense of control so we make bad decisions. Here’s the truth: When it comes to control, it’s best to leave it up to God.

GOAL! Write down something you control.