Jamaica Olympian Dennis Johnson dies at 81
Published:Friday | April 23, 2021 | 11:13 AM
Jamaican Olympian and track and field legend, Dennis Johnson, passed away on Thursday night at the age of 81 years-old.
Johnson was recently admitted to hospital, after contracting the coronavirus disease, a diagnosis that came about after the sprint legend went to the hospital after suffering a bad fall in a store bathroom, while out shopping.
Johnson, who equalled the world record of 9.30 seconds over 100 yards in 1961, is the former director of sports at the University of Technology.
He won a bronze medal at the 1959 Pan Am Games as a member of the West Indies Federation sprint relay team and went on to equal the 100 yards world record three times in a six week period, in 1961.
Johnson represented Jamaica at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan as a member of Jamaica's fourth-placed finishing 4x100m relay team.
His introduction of a collegiate athletics structure in Jamaica and his work as an administrator and coach, are seen as fundamental factors in Jamaica's consistent performances at the top of world sprinting.
Johnson was conferred with the Order of Distinction by the Jamaica Government in 2001.
Johnson served at UTech in many capacities, including as chairman of the Sports Advisory Council; adjunct associate professor of sport science; the first director of sports; and has headed special projects for intercollegiate sports.