Rafer Johnson Biography
Standout Athlete, Marched Into Stadium, Chronology, Opening Ceremony Honoree Again, Contact Information, Awards And AccomplishmentsSELECTED WRITINGS BY JOHNSON:
1935-
American decathlete
Rafer Johnson's victory in the decathlon at the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome, Italy, earned him the title of "world's greatest athlete," but the track star never competed in another Olympiad again. Johnson was one of the outstanding college athletes of his day, breaking several track and field records and winning Sports Illustrated's "Sportsman of the Year" award while a student at the University of California at Los Angeles. At the opening ceremonies of the 1960 Rome Games, he carried the American flag at the front of the Olympic delegation, the first African American athlete ever chosen for the honor.
SELECTED WRITINGS BY JOHNSON:
Johnson, Rafer, and Philip Goldberg. The Best That I Can Be. Garden City: Doubleday, 1998.
Sketch by Carol Brennan
Additional topics
- Marion Jones Biography - "i Want To Be An Olympic Champion", High School Star, Tar Heels Point Guard, Chronology - CONTACT INFORMATION
- Michael Johnson Biography - Born In Dallas, Runs Track For Baylor, Waylaid By Illness In 1992, Wins Both Events At Atlanta - SELECTED WRITINGS BY JOHNSON:
- Rafer Johnson - Standout Athlete
- Rafer Johnson - Marched Into Stadium
- Rafer Johnson - Chronology
- Rafer Johnson - Opening Ceremony Honoree Again
- Rafer Johnson - Contact Information
- Rafer Johnson - Awards And Accomplishments
- Rafer Johnson - Further Information
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