hiː wʌzðə fˈeɪvɹɪt ɪnðɪ ᵻvˈɛnt, wɪð jˌʊɹɹəpˈiən tʃˈæmpiənʃˌɪps ɪn bˈoʊθ wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd mˈiːɾɚz ænd tˈuːhˈʌndɹɪd mˈiːɾɚz ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti wˈʌn tə ɡˌoʊ ɐlˈɔŋ wɪð hɪz wˈɜːld tˈaɪɾəl ænd wˈɜːld ɹˈɛkɚd.
He was the favourite in the event, with European championships in both 100 metres and 200 metres in 1991 to go along with his World title and world record.