Former 'World's Greatest' Athlete Dies At Age 86

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

A legendary American athlete on and off the field of play, Rafer Johnson died on Wednesday in Sherman Oaks, Calif. LA Times Obituary

A standout at UCLA, the Texas native earned a silver medal in the decathon at the 1956 Olympics and then returned to win the gold medal in 1960. The competition in 1960 was memorable for the dual between Johnson and his former UCLA training partner, C.K. Yang, who represented Taiwan. 

Johnson edged Yang by just 58 points for the gold medal in Rome. 

Johnson broke the world record in the decathlon in 1958 and 1960 and was Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year in 1958. The level of respect and admiration attained by Johnson led to his becoming the first African-American flag-bearer at the Olympic Games (1960).

Johnson helped bring the Olympic Games back to Los Angeles in 1984 and was selected to light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony. 

Johnson is also remembered for his involvement with the Robert F. Kennedy presidential campaign in 1968 and his act of heroism the night Kennedy was assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. He tackled the shooter, Sirhan Sirhan, along with football player Rosey Grier. 

Johnson continued to play a role in track and field and was involved in ther Hershey's Track and Field Games for youth, as well as Special Olympics and other humanitarian causes.