Legendary sprinter Michael Johnson says an “Olympic mindset” has enabled him to get “pretty much back to normal” just three months after suffering a stroke. 

The four-time Olympic champion went to hospital immediately after feeling a “strange tingling” down his arm and left side following a training session in September.

Johnson was unable to walk but vowed to make a rapid recovery after taking 15 minutes to cover 200 metres – the distance over which won Olympic gold in 1996 and claimed two world titles – in hospital.

“I was achieving tiny incremental improvements and it gave me hope,” the 51-year-old told the BBC.

“I told my wife I was confident of making a full recovery and not only will I do that, I will do it faster than anybody else has done before.

“I knew then the recovery was going to be down to hard work, focus and commitment to the process. That is something I am very familiar with.

“Almost three months on now from the stroke and I am pretty much back to normal and back to work.

“I am feeling good and I was really lucky. It has been quite an experience.”