RIP: 1960 Olympic decathlon champ Rafer Johnson has died

He also lit the cauldron in 1984.

Another Track & Field legend is gone.

Rafer was a true American hero.

About as legend of a legend as you can get.

privileged: while there are many different definitions of this word, especially in today’s climate, i can only think of one definition that fully encompasses the term, and that is having had firsthand experiences with rafer johnson and family. when i saw him light the cauldron in 1984, the summer before my enrollment in ucla, i surely did NOT grasp what it would mean to don the same blue and gold that this legend had worn. seeing him at every meet, i began to understand the shadow he casts on EVERY bruin, in every sport, who strives for greatness--you could argue (and it would NOT be a one sided argument in the least) that jackie robinson may be the only bruin who casts a longer shadow. but upon graduating in 1989, i got to see firsthand the man and father that rafer is when i started coaching at windward high school; even though i never got to coach his kids, i couldn’t help then, and i can’t help now, but be impressed with how they honor their father with their own impressive accomplishments, but more importantly, with their character. just as he was at every ucla track banquet, rafer was at every windward banquet (they were all-sport for this small private school), and it was clear he was supporting his kids in all the right ways that dads are supposed to, and it was clear he was supporting ALL the athletes in all the right ways that an olympian is supposed to. while i probably only accumulated less than an hour of conversation with him in the 31 years i’ve been a bruin, it was amazing how this soft-spoken giant, with a few words, made you want to be a better person. privileged indeed...

The guy was a legend. The more I read about him the more I'm amazed. Class president in both HS and college? Is that right?

Does anyone know what he was up to for since the 1980s? All of the articles I've read sort of just stop around 1984. How did he make a living? I guess if he died at 85 he could have been tried since 2000.

Arnie Robinson now this Sad

Circle of life

rafer fan wrote:

Does anyone know what he was up to for since the 1980s? All of the articles I've read sort of just stop around 1984. How did he make a living? I guess if he died at 85 he could have been tried since 2000.

in the 80s he was very active promoting special olympics, which he was part of during its inception in 1968. he was also very active raising his two kids who were born in the 70s, and he had a day job--here's an article that outlines much of this:

Very complimentary of you, scc.

A true hero. RIP Mr. Johnson.

He really was a legend, and apparently had a life well lived. It makes me sad that so many younger people will have no idea who he was.

I had no idea what a life Rafer Johnson lived. The LA Times obituary was great. He had to be one of the most impressive Americans in the 20th century.

I now remember as a kid my dad talking about Johnson and Yang competing at the Olympics but don't remember anything else beyond that.

wejo have you seen the criterion collection 1960 summer olympics footage? They have a great bit on the friendship between Yang and RJ.

I always think of him as the 1984 torch guy.

That was the first Summer Games I watched.

booschexnayderchela wrote:

wejo have you seen the criterion collection 1960 summer olympics footage? They have a great bit on the friendship between Yang and RJ.

Here ya go, enjoy. Starts at 1h 42m 50s in:

What an epic competition that decathlon was! Rafer Johnson introduced Yang to the sport and in the end they were neck and neck the entire time. Johnson had a large margin in the throws. Johnson was a true embodiment of sportsmanship and a standard for what a human being can aspire to become.

Webb has a Keg wrote:

booschexnayderchela wrote:

wejo have you seen the criterion collection 1960 summer olympics footage? They have a great bit on the friendship between Yang and RJ.

Here ya go, enjoy. Starts at 1h 42m 50s in:

https://youtu.be/Kx8mGG7KYBk?t=6170

Just watched it. I must have seen that before.

Loved how Rafer wore a suit on the medal stand as he was done with athletics.

a true class act! had 10.3 low speed, and basically was very competitive at all 10 events except pole vaulting. also loved how he collapsed on the shoulder of his friend at the end. just goes to show you can be a total BAMF and also cute at the sametime.

Rojo, thanks for the post. I started a RIP post but it did not get any traction. Rafer was an amazing athlete and a truly a unique individual. He should have been one only 3 other athletes to win 2 Olympic gold medals in the decathlon. In 1956 he was ranked number one and expected to win gold, but he sustained some inquired weeks before and could only mange silver. A couple days before the games he was encouraged to pull out. He was actually better in 1956 than he was in 1960 when he won the gold. Rafer was excellent student in high school and college, he was student body president while at UCLA. He also played basketball for UCLA and had many interest beyond sports . I was fortunate to meet him on a couple of occasions mostly track meets and it was always amazing to see the high regard baby boomers held him. I was sitting near the VIP area at the 1996 Olympic Trials and I watched at least dozen people walk past the best athletes in the world to get an autograph or picture taken with Rafer. He was a great athlete, but he was also admired for being an all around good dude.

Thanks and again for the post.