Cornelius Johnson (athlete)
| Olympic medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's athletics | ||
Representing the  United States
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1936 Berlin | High jump |
Cornelius Cooper Johnson (August 28, 1913 – February 15, 1946) was an American athlete in the high jump. Born in Los Angeles in 1913, Cornelius ("Corny") Johnson first competed in organized track and field events at Berendo Junior High School. He achieved greater athletic success as a student at Los Angeles High School, competing in the sprint and in the high jump. Before going to the Olympics as a junior, he won the CIF California State Meet in 1932. He had been second the year before.
At the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932, Johnson, who was then an 18-year-old high school student, placed fourth in the high jump under the existing tiebreaker rules. Had the current rules been in force, he would have won the silver medal.
He repeated at the State Meet in 1933. During 1934-? Johnson attended Compton College and with coach Herschel Smith continued his high jump career.
His technique was described as a panther-like western roll. At the 1936 U.S. Olympic Trials, Johnson set the world record at 6 ft 9 3⁄4 in (2.07 m). After the bar was remeasured and everybody celebrated, Dave Albritton equalled Johnson's record.
In 1936 Johnson was one of 19 African Americans at the Berlin Olympics, where he won the gold. Johnson's winning height of 2.03m was an Olympic record and he tried unsuccessfully for the world record.
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