Rafer Johnson
#BlackExcellence
Today in 1960, Rafer Johnson became the first African American to win the Olympic gold medal in the Decathlon. Johnson was born in Hillsboro, Texas in 1934. His family later relocated to California at the age of nine. In high school, he played on the football, baseball, and basketball teams. Johnson was introduced to the decathlon events by his coach at the age of 16. He later began competing in the decathlon events in his school and won the California state high school decathlon meets in 1953 and 1954. Johnson qualified for the decathlon and long jump events in the 1956 Summer Olympics. Due to an injury, he forfeited the long jump and won second place in the decathlon. It was in the summer Olympics in Rome when he won the gold medal title.
by @mz_b24
