Carl Johnson (athlete)

Johnson was born in Genesee County, Michigan, but moved to Spokane, Washington, as a child. In 1915, as a Spokane high school student, he competed as an individual in the National Interscholastics, and finished second in the team competition.[1]

He returned to Michigan in 1916 to enroll at the University of Michigan, where he was a member of the track team from 1918 to 1920 and became one of the greatest track and field athletes in the university's history. While attending Michigan, Johnson was also Class President during his junior year, President of the Student Council during his senior year, Chairman of the Ferry Field War Memorial Committee, a Student Member of the Senate Committee on Student Affairs, and a member of Phi Kappa Psi, Michigamua, Sphinx, Griffins, Spotlight Vaudeville Committee, Union Opera Committee, French Memorial Committee, Roosevelt Memorial Committee, Union House Committee, and the Board of Directors of Michigan Chimes.[2] Competing for Michigan at the 1919 IC4A, he won the long jump, placed second in the 100 yard dash, and tied for second in the high jump. He also had his person best long jump, 24 feet 1 inch (7.34 m) in 1919.[1]

He did not compete in most of the 1920 college track and field season, and he had a poor performance at the Olympic tryouts. Nevertheless, he made the Olympic team. At the Olympics, in the qualifying round, he jumped 6.82 metres (22 ft 5 in). He qualified for the final round, where he leapt 7.095 metres (23 ft 3.3 in), which earned him the silver medal.[1]