Track legend Michael Johnson recovering from mini stroke

Michael Johnson of the United States runs to win the men's 200 meters in a then world record time of 19.32 at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. (Michael Probst/AP)

Olympic track great Michael Johnson says he is recovering from a mini stroke last week.

The 50-year-old sprinter says on Twitter he "rather surprisingly" was stricken with a transient ischemic attack, known as a TIA or mini stroke. According to the Mayo Clinic, a TIA usually lasts only a few minutes and causes no permanent damage.

Johnson writes that he has been "cleared of any heart issues." He adds that he is back home with family and has "already made great progress on my road to recovery."

Johnson is a four-time Olympic gold medallist . At the 1996 Atlanta Games, he became the only male athlete to win the 200 and 400 metres at the same Olympics. He had held world and Olympic records in those events.

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