Earl Johnson (runner)
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Medal record
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Robert Earle "Earl" Johnson (March 10, 1891 in Woodstock, Virginia – November 19, 1965) was an American athlete who competed mainly in the cross country team.
Achievements
He was the 1921 National Champion.[1] He effectively defended his championship in 1922 as he was beaten by Ville Ritola's Van Cortlandt Park course record, but since Ritola was Finnish, Johnson was the first American finisher in the National Championships. A rare black athlete of his day, he worked for the Edgar Thomson Steel Works in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[2]
Award
He competed for the United States in the 1924 Summer Olympics held in Paris, France in the cross-country team where he won the silver medal with his teammates Arthur Studenroth and August Fager.[3] In the 10,000 m at the 1924 Summer Olympics, Johnson finished 8th in 32:17.0.[4]
Personal life
Johnson was an adopted child; his aunt and uncle, Mary and Robert, adopted and brought him up in their Harrisonburg, va. home. As a child, he engaged in numerous sports activities.[5]
Death
Later in life, he got a job as a sportswriter for The Pittsburgh Courier. He died at the Pittsburgh VA Hospital aged 74.[5]
References
- ^ "Earl Johnson". Olympedia. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "Ritola makes new record for course" (PDF). The New York Times. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 Jan 2020.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Earl Johnson Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
- ^ "Athletics at the 1924 Paris Games: Men's 10,000 metres". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
- ^ a b Devine, Dave. ""THROUGH THE TERRIFFIC HEAT: EARL JOHNSON'S 1924 OLYMPIC TRIUMPH"". Dyestat.com. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
