Athletics JOHNSON TO QUIT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29421, 25 January 1961, Page 6

Athletics JOHNSON TO QUIT

U.S. Decathlon Champion (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) COLUMBUS (Ohio), Jan. 23. The United States Olympic decathlon champion, R. Johnson, has left amateur athletics for the motion picture industry. Johnson said he was finished with amateur athletics when he was awarded the James E Sullivan Trophy. as the nation's outstanding amateur athlete of 1960, during a banquet on Saturday evening “You can’t go any further in amateur athletics after getting the Sullivan award,” he said. He also received another trophy as. "track man of the year.” He said one of the reasons for quitting was a back ailment which caused him difficulty in training for the Rome Olympic Games where he was the United States standard bearer and a gold medal winner. He was one of many of America’s top athletes and sports officials to attend the sixth annual award dinner, during which 40 awards were made. Proceeds went to the Uni’ed States Olympic fund. The world heavyweight boxing champion. F. Patterson, received the first aw’ards as “Fighter of the Year” and for the best "Individual Athletic Performance” for regaining the title from I. Johnasson.