Posted on 12/02/2020 12:34:20 PM PST by DFG
Rafer Johnson, the breathtaking Olympic gold medal winner who became an adored symbol of good sportsmanship and civic generosity, died Wednesday at his home in Sherman Oaks. He was 86.
The Olympian’s death was confirmed by his family.
Johnson’s legacy was interwoven with Los Angeles’ history, beginning with his performances as a world-class athlete at UCLA, and punctuated by the night in 1968 when he helped disarm Robert F. Kennedy’s assassin at the Ambassador Hotel.
The son of Texas farmworkers who moved to California when he was young, Johnson rose to become the World’s Greatest Athlete, the unofficial title bestowed on the winner of the Olympic decathlon at a time when track and field stars received the adulation that today is bestowed on the best of the NFL and NBA.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
RIP Rafer Jonson, Olympic Decathlon Champion 1960.
I met him as a kid, he was a very gracious man.
A friend was in LA for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games and correctly predicted that traffic would be great in Atlanta for the ‘96 Summer Games here. Traffic hasn’t been as light here since those 3 weeks in the Summer of ‘96, until the early months of Covid.
We were vacationing Maine during those games, and ran into a family from Atlanta who went to Maine to escape the Olympics.
Condolences to family and friends of Rafer Johnson. R.I.P., sir. love.
As a former decathlete myself i knew his story incredibly well...the battle against CK Yang was one of the great Olympic decathlon duels of all time. That 1960 American Olympic team was incredible.
Rafer also lit the torch for the 1984 Games in LA...
I was at both Olympics..no traffic in LA. Only traffic i experienced in Atlanta was actually leaving downtown Atlanta in the afternoon.
He spoke at my HS, probably during the 1975-76 school year.
Can’t remember what he talked about, though.
Memory Eternal!!!!
Bruce Jenner was once the World’s Greatest Athlete!!!!
https://www.teamusa.org/News/2015/April/30/How-Bruce-Jenner-Became-The-Worlds-Greatest-Athlete
Too bad!!!!
I remember that 1984 torch lighting - what an amazing production.
I also remember they had Bruce Jenner nearby warming up, in case Rafer ran into trouble. No kidding.
RIP
I see FR is based in Fresno. - Rafer Johnson was from nearby Kingsburg, CA.
Shout out to the Great Central Valley!
I never met him, but I’ve heard nothing but positive things about this great American.
RIP champ!
Jenner was one of the athletes who carried the Olympic flag into the stadium...Johnson actually pulled/sprained his calf muscle just days before the opening ceremonies and there was concern about his ability to climb those stairs to the torch.
Thank them for me, for making the traffic so wonderful as we ran downtown for events!
So was I. Plenty of street parking in usually-packed Westwood! A miracle!
my only famous person i ever spent time with...Rio De Janerio Brazil 1964 at a golf country club where my family were members. Mr. Johnson let me spend a day with him, play golf ate lunch with him, was a great honor. As a child i had no idea who he was. My father was very impressed i had spent the day with him. He was so very kind to me. Told me he was going to import “Guarana” a Brazilian soft drink. Great memories
RIP.
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