Olympian’s San Rafael home asks $3.19 million

Texas-born Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson moved to Marin County in 2000, answering what the San Francisco Chronicle called “a hankering” for a “California lifestyle.”

Johnson’s coach Clyde Hart said at the time, “Michael likes the water. He likes the water and he likes boats. He likes the wine country.” You’ve got to respect a guy who knows what he likes.

And now swift buyers with similar hankering for water, boats, and wine can scoop up Johnson’s five-bed, four-bath, 4,500-square-foot house at 87 Brodea Way in San Rafael, which the gold medalist listed this week.

The price of a multiple-time Olympic gold medalists home in this market: more than $3.19 million. That’s the equivalent of the value of over 6,360 gold medals, at least at 2016 Olympic medal prices.

Johnson paid $2.45 million for the place in 2001, the equivalent of $3.4 million after inflation—more than they’re presently asking for it. According to realtor Thomas Henthorne, this gated 2001 build sports:

10+ high ceilings, crown moulding, hardwood floors and custom carpets. Both the formal living room and the open-concept kitchen / family room feature walls of glass that open out to wonderful outdoor entertaining areas including an expansive, level lawn with low-maintenance artificial turf and a putting green.

Note also the entryway and multi-fold ceiling in the living room, terminating at a full-wall bank of windows, a combination that, if you squint hard enough, recalls Superman’s Fortress of Solitude.

Of course, the ad immediately drops the name of the home’s decorated owner. And it is indeed Johnson’s place: The Telegraph photographed him in the living room in 2012, and the place still has the same recognizable chessboard walls and marble mantle over the fireplace.

Johnson was initially famous for the eye-catching gold shoes he wore to races. Later he racked up five Olympic gold medals to match them. (The ad qualifies him as a four-time medalist on account of he returned his medal from the 2000 games to protest a teammate’s confession of cheating.)

In fact, Johnson’s preoccupation with gold became so pronounced that the Telegraph reporter even noted that he was seated on a gold-print sofa during the interview. Fortunately it appears the Olympiad reeled in his affection for the hue when it came to most of the rest of the decorating decisions.

• 87 Brodea Way [Estately]
• Thomas Henthorne
• How Much Is a Gold Medal Worth? [TIME]
• Michael Johnson Moves To Marin [Chronicle]
• Johnson’s Steely Perfectionism [Telegraph]