Michael Johnson To Open Training Center in McKinney
by RunTex Staff, 6/29/2006

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson is planning to open a new training center in McKinney, just north of Dallas. It will be called The Michael Johnson Performance Training Center and it will be a key part of the new Cooper Sports Complex, a $50 million development that also includes a Cooper Sports Medicine clinic and the Cooper Institute for Sports Medicine Research.

Johnson's facility will be used for pro athletes, and world-class track athletes, but it will also cater to weekend warriors. Johnson said he'll also place a heavy emphasis on training young athletes.

"What really intrigues me is the ability to take the same level of training we're able to provide elite, Olympic athletes, and bring it to youths between 12 to 18 years old, and help them reach their sporting dreams in any sport they choose," Johnson said.

Johnson also will work closely with the Cooper Institute for Sports Medicine Research, a physiology testing and research facility aimed at improving athletic performance. It will be led by Dr. Conrad Earnest, who currently is director of the Center for Integrated Health Research at the Cooper Institute in Dallas.

Construction of Johnson's training center hasn't started yet, but it's set to open in early 2007. The 24,000-square-foot building will include a basketball court, an eight-lane, 400-meter track and an indoor track.

Johnson, a Dallas native, chose North Texas because of the weather, its central location and nearby airport.
"My family is here, my connections are here; it's a great place for me to be," he said.

Johnson said he's also talking with several groups about bringing elite level track and field events to Craig Ranch where there will also be a 4000-seat track stadium.