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Ben Johnson (American sprinter)
American track athlete / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Benjamin Washington Johnson (1914–1992) was an American sprinter who was considered a serious rival to Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens. Known as the "Columbia Comet", Johnson was the United States champion at 100 yards in 1938, but injuries and the outbreak of the Second World War denied him a chance to compete in the Olympics.
Quick Facts Personal information, Birth name ...
![]() Johnson in 1933 | |
Personal information | |
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Birth name | Benjamin Washington Johnson |
Born | 1914 Virginia, US |
Died | 1992 (aged 77–78) |
Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
Weight | 150 lb (68 kg) |
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In later life he became one of the first African-Americans to attain the rank of colonel in the United States Army.