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The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2023

Rafer Johnson

  • Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2023
  • Embed from Getty Images
  • Sport(s): Track & Field
  • Statistics: 1 Decathlon Olympic Gold Medal (1960)

    1 Decathlon Olympic Silver Medal (1956)

    1 Decathlon Pan American Games Gold Medal (1955)

    1 AP Athlete of the Year Award (1960)

    1 James E. Sullivan Award (1960)

    Member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
  • In 1954 while studying at UCLA, Rafer Johnson was already so prolific at the decathlon that he set the World Record. Qualifying for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics in both the long jump and decathlon, injuries forced him to forfeit the long jump, but even though he was hurt, he still placed second in the event, winning the Silver behind teammate Milt Campbell.



    Johnson suffered through more injuries that hampered his 1957 and 1959 track season, but he arrived in Rome for the 1960 Olympics healthy, and he would win Olympic Gold.



    Years later, in 1968, Johnson, along with former NFL player Rosey Grier, tackled Sirhan Sirhan, the man who shot and killed Robert F. Kennedy. He would later be the man who lit the torch at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.



    We are proud to nominate Rafer Johnson for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.
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