# David Johnson (sprinter)

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**David Johnson** (born 1931) is an Australian former athlete who specialised in [sprinting](/source/Sprint_(running)).[1][2]

Born in [Sydney](/source/Sydney), Johnson studied at [Canterbury Boys High School](/source/Canterbury_Boys_High_School) and after the war moved down to [Wollongong](/source/Wollongong), where he attended [Wollongong High School](/source/Wollongong_High_School). In 1949 he ran the fastest ever 100 yard race on record by an Australian schoolboy, clocking 9.7 seconds at the New South Wales All Schools Championships.[3]

Johnson was a NSW state junior champion in both the 100 yards and 220 yards.[3]

In 1950, Johnson competed at the [British Empire Games](/source/1950_British_Empire_Games) in Auckland and won two medals, a silver in the 220 yard sprint and a gold as a member of the 4 × 110 yards relay team. He was the youngest athlete in the Australian squad.[3]

A few months after returning from Auckland, Johnson was diagnosed with [polio](/source/Polio). He made a brief comeback in 1951 after recovering but was unable to regain his previous pace and retired at the age of 21.[4]

## References

1. ["How life changed in a flash for David Johnson"](https://goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/commonwealth-games/gold-coast-2018-commonwealth-games-countdown-how-life-changed-in-a-flash-for-david-johnson/news-story/f207d2544ab20528c8c310a60d66f851). *[Gold Coast Bulletin](/source/Gold_Coast_Bulletin)*. 30 September 2017.

1. Barrow, Tim (30 March 2018). ["The golden post-war legacy of the 'Wollongong Flash'"](https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5314717/the-golden-post-war-legacy-of-the-wollongong-flash/). *[Illawarra Mercury](/source/Illawarra_Mercury)*

1. Ross, Barry (14 May 2017). ["Brief, brilliant career of fastest boy on legs"](https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/5415466/brief-brilliant-career-of-fastest-boy-on-legs/). *The Senior*

1. ["David Johnson Suffering From Polio"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136541669). *Illawarra Daily Mercury*. 7 June 1950. p. 1.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [David Johnson (sprinter)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Johnson_(sprinter)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Johnson_(sprinter)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.