Richard Earle "Earl" Johnson (March 10, 1891 in Woodstock, Virginia – November 19, 1965) was an American athlete who competed mainly in the cross country team. He was the 1921 National Champion. He effectively defended his championship in 1922 as he was beaten by Ville Ritola's

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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

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. He competed for the United States in the

1924 Summer Olympics The 1924 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1924), officially the Games of the VIII Olympiad (french: Jeux de la VIIIe olympiade) and also known as Paris 1924, were an international multi-sport event held in Paris, France. The op ...

held in

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in the cross country team where he won the silver medal with his teammates Arthur Studenroth and August Fager.

References

1891 births 1965 deaths People from Woodstock, Virginia Track and field athletes from Virginia American male long-distance runners Athletes (track and field) at the 1920 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1924 Summer Olympics Olympic silver medalists for the United States in track and field Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in track and field Medalists at the 1924 Summer Olympics African-American track and field athletes American male track and field athletes Olympic cross country runners 20th-century African-American sportspeople African-American sportsmen {{US-athletics-Olympic-medalist-stub