With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
LA's Own Olympic Legend Rafer Johnson, Immortalized In Downtown Mural, Dead At 86
Olympic gold medalist Rafer Johnson listens to the National Anthem before pushing the ignition switch to light the L.A. Memorial Coliseum's Olympic cauldron on September 17, 2017. (David Mcnew/AFP via Getty Images)
Olympic gold medalist Rafer Johnson, who helped bring the 1984 Summer Games to Los Angeles, has died at age 86.
Johnson was among the world's greatest athletes, winning the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1960 Games in Rome. He was the first Black athlete to be Team USA's flag bearer. And he lit the Olympic Flame at the L.A. Coliseum to open the '84 Games.
But Johnson's legacy goes beyond his involvement in the Olympics. In 1968, Johnson helped apprehend assassin Sirhan Sirhan, who had shot Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy at L.A.'s Ambassador Hotel.
And he was a powerhouse figure of the Special Olympics. L.A. muralist Kent Twitchell explained Johnson's involvement in a 2015 piece on KPCC:
Sponsored message
"JFK's sister created the Special Olympics in '68. It was so inspirational to Rafer that he created Special Olympics California '69 and has been the number one spokesman and inspiration and power behind it ever since, and now it's grown into a huge international event. One of the really great, true, authentic legends of American sports that has just continued to do so much good."
HEAR TWITCHELL TALK ABOUT THE MURAL:
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
