Lawrence JOHNSON

Lawrence Johnson was a pole vaulter who competed at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, winning silver at Sydney. Johnson was World Indoor Champion in 2001. He was a four-time US Champion, winning in 1996-97 and 2000-01, and won three US Indoor titles, in 1997 and 2000-01. Johnson also won silver medals at the 1997 World Indoors and the 1995 World University Games. He set one American record, clearing 5.98 at Knoxville, Tennessee in May 1996.

Johnson went to the University of Tennessee, graduating in 1996. He also competed in the decathlon in college, winning one Southeastern Conference title. Johnson won four NCAA pole vault championships, outdoors in 1995-96, and indoors in 1994 and 1996. Johnson was the first African-American to win an Olympic medal in the pole vault.

Johnson later went into coaching, initially at the University of South Carolina. However, he resigned from there to form his own training and coaching company, focusing on training youths and elite athletes.

Personal Best: PV – 5.98 (1996).