Rafer Johnson is an American former decathlete and Olympic gold medalist. He won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, becoming the first African American to win the event. He also won a silver medal in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Johnson was also a member of the 1968 US Olympic team, carrying the American flag during the opening ceremonies. He was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975.