Usain Bolt is greater than Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, says Michael Johnson

Johnson said the Jamaican sprint king is a clear favourite

Athletics legend Michael Johnson feels Usain Bolt has surpassed the likes of him and Carl Lewis by his sheer consistency and can easily be considered the 'greatest' track-and-field star in the world at this point.

Johnson said the Jamaican sprint king is a clear favourite Athletics legend Michael Johnson feels Usain Bolt has surpassed the likes of him and Carl Lewis by his sheer consistency and can easily be considered the 'greatest' track-and-field star in the world at this point.

Johnson, a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, said the triple Olympic sprint champion surpasses him, Bolt would be simply unstoppable in this year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro if he manages to remain injury-free. "Neither Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis or myself has produced, in my opinion, the consistency and longevity that Usain Bolt has and so to this point he has to be considered the greatest. If he's healthy, I don't think anyone can stop him in the Rio," Johnson told Laureus.com.

Bolt is in the running for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award alongwith football icon Lionel Messi and tennis ace Novak Djokovic among others. But Johnson said the Jamaican sprint king is a clear favourite. "Who can stop Bolt for the Laureus Award?" he said.

Johnson also lauded Jamaican woman sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. "There is no reason why Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce should not be right there with Bolt in terms of popularity and what she has been able to do for the sport, other than she hasn't been able to break the world record."