For U.S. officials, decathlete Rafer Johnson was the perfect man to carry the American flag in the opening ceremonies of the 1960 Olympic Games. He was accomplished, dedicated, intelligent, well spoken, and perhaps most important for some, Johnson was black.
1960 Olympic Games in Rome: Political Unrest, Changing Expectations
On many levels, the 1960 Olympic Games changed the way the entire Olympic game was played. The 1960 Rome Olympics introduced the first endorsement, the first television coverage, and one of the first times the Games were used as propaganda among Cold War participants.
In the United States, the Civil Rights movement was gaining momentum. In addition, the 1960 Olympic Games presented an opportunity for the Soviet Union: to remind Soviet citizens and the rest of the world that the United States was less-than-moral. To pacify the rising Civil Rights crowds, and to prove the Soviet Union’s propaganda incorrect, Johnson was chosen to carry the American flag at the opening ceremonies at the 1960 Olympic Games.
Rafer Johnson: First Black Person to Carry the U.S. Flag in Olympic Opening Ceremonies
Besides, Johnson deserved to carry the flag during Opening ceremonies. He had been named captain of the U.S. team, and there were few athletes to could have been more deserving of the honor.
A decathlete at UCLA, Johnson was the silver medal winner at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games behind teammate Milt Campbell. Since those Olympic Games, Johnson had been at the forefront in nearly all major international decathlon competitions, breaking the world record, winning three AAU national championships and competing against Soviet decathlete Vasily Kuznetsov in a Soviet-American track and field competition in Moscow in 1958.
Decathlete Rafer Johnson at the 1956 Olympic Games
But despite his success as an athlete and beyond, the silver medal at the 1956 Olympic Games still stung for Johnson. Heading into the 1956 Olympics, Johnson was considered the heavy favorite for gold, but an injury during a warm up kept Johnson from competing at his best.
It was perhaps his reaction after the disappointing second-place finish that helped catapult Johnson into a leadership role among American athletes.
“When you finish second, you have to take a real close look at how you performed, how you thought, and how these thoughts caused you to feel and how you reacted to that,” Johnson said after the event, according to author David Maraniss.
Rafer Johnson and Decathlon at the 1960 Olympic Games and Beyond
Four years later, Johnson was ready to try for the gold medal again, this time against UCLA teammate C.K Yang of Taiwan. Yang won six of the first nine events, leaving the decathlon gold medal to the winner of the 1,500m run. To earn gold, Johnson would have to defeat Yang by 10 seconds or more — a feat that he accomplished, taking the gold medal home with him.
That year, Johnson received the 1960 Sullivan Award, then given to the best amateur athlete in the country. Johnson also was named the 1960 Associated Press Athlete of the Year.
Johnson also played basketball under John Wooden at UCLA, starting for the 1959-1960 team. Johnson credits Wooden with much of his success.
“Many of the things that I’ve accomplished beyond my years at UCLA … have a great deal to do with what I’ve learned from Coach Wooden,” Johnson told Mike Padilla of UCLA Spotlight in 2005.
After Athletics: Rafer Johnson the Actor, Broadcaster, Political Advisor, Spokesman
After his athletic career, Johnson went on to become a film actor, a television broadcaster and a political advisor. Johnson was active on the Presidents Commission on Olympic Sports and was an active participant in Robert F. Kennedy’s campaign for the presidency.
Johnson also became an important member of the torch relay at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where he lit the Olympic flame in the Olympic Stadium. Rafer’s daughter, Jennifer, also was a member of the U.S. Olympic team, competing in beach volleyball at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Today, Johnson is involved in the South Carolina Special Olympics Movement and the spokesman for Hershey’s Track & Field Games, a position he shares with Carl Lewis.
Read other Olympic Black History Month Articles:
- Black History Month - Speedskater Shani Davis
- Black History Month - Vonetta Flowers Wins Gold
- Black History Month - Hockey Player Willie O'Ree
Sources:
" Rafer Johnson." Hershey's Track and Field Games Official Website.
Maraniss, David. "Rome 1960: The Olympics that Changed the World." Simon & Schuster, July 2008.
Padilla, Mike. "Rafer Johnson : Olympic Gold Medalist and UCLA Dad." UCLA Spotling, Oct. 1, 2005.
Schwartz, Larry. "From Rags to Sport Riches." Espn.com
Kristen Nichols - Kristen is a freelance reporter and copywriter covering Olympic and Paralympic sport for Suite101.com. Kristen's love of sport developed ...
