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Rafer Lewis Johnson is an American former decathlete and film actor. He was the 1960 Olympic gold medalist, after getting a silver in 1956 and a gold in the 1955 Pan American Games. He was also the flag bearer at the 1960 Olympics and lit the Olympic Flame when the Olympics came to Los Angeles in 1984.
He was a real life hero, along with Rosey Grier tackling Sirhan Sirhan moments after he had mortally wounded Robert F. Kennedy.
After the Olympics he turned his celebrity into acting, sportscasting and public service. He was instrumental in creating the California Special Olympics.
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