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From rags to sport riches

By Larry Schwartz
Special to ESPN.com

Tuesday, August 29, 2000

No event in track and field is more difficult than the decathlon. That's because it's not one event, but ten. It's little wonder then that when Rafer Johnson, a high school star in four sports, decided to compete exclusively in track, he chose the decathlon. When he competed in the 1960 Olympics, Johnson already had the world record, three national AAU championships and a silver medal in the Olympics on his resume. Missing was the gold. If the finely chiseled Johnson could hold on for one more ...

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