Olympic medalist & trail-blazing distance runner
R. Earl Johnson is the most remarkable champion American distance runner you’ve never heard of. It’s time for him to finally receive his due recognition.
Johnson, the first two-time black Olympian, earned an individual bronze and team silver medal in one of the most star-studded and grueling distance running races in Olympic history.
Now or Never: The Extraordinary Story of R. Earl Johnson & the 1924 Olympic Cross Country Race
A riveting account of the most grueling race in Olympic history and the triumph of a courageous Black American distance runner.
Ten-time American national champion. Olympic cross country silver and bronze medalist.
Named by the Pittsburgh Courier as “the greatest black distance runner of the past 50 years”, Johnson crushed prevailing racial stereotypes and dominated his competition on cinder path tracks, hill and dale cross country courses, trails, indoor tracks and asphalt road races in distances from one mile to marathon.
The legacy of R. Earl Johnson
Johnson’s impact and accomplishments have largely been forgotten over time. As we approach the 100 year anniversary of his legendary, medal-winning Olympic cross country run, it’s time to bring his story back to prominence. Join us as we seek to campaign for his induction in the US National Track and Field Hall of Fame and other honors.
Learn more about R. Earl Johnson’s life & legacy
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