 Due to the injury sustained in Toronto, Johnson was unable to compete in the 1997 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships held a few weeks later in Indianapolis and could thus not qualify for the IAAF World Championships later that summer in Athens.However, Johnson was still able to compete, and the championships avoided losing the star appeal of the double world record holder, as the IAAF had created a new policy of inviting the defending champions to the World Championship.Johnson declined to compete in the 200 metres, won by Ato Boldon, but he successfully defended his world title in the 400 metres.