Johnson said: The athletes who came before me were true heroes, but also cautionary tales.
As a result, Johnson went on, the 1990s saw athletes stay almost silent on matters outside sport.
They were deemed safe.
Michael Johnson at Cannes Lions Festival, 2023.Marian Brannelly/Cannes Lions
He added hed seen evidence of that throughout his life as an athlete, and in retirement.
It has empowered young girls to play sport, it has broken down barriers in communities, he said.
Its why athletes have such a powerful voice.
[Its] the same with NFL everyone knows about Colin Kaepernick.
Johnson also cited the threats made to outspoken athletes and their families, plus invasions of privacy.
He added that issues could be complex.
Johnson referenced his personal journey.
It was very impactful and proud work for me.
I thought, How can I be helpful?
And I started to use my voice, knowing thats fraught with all sorts of issues.
