View source for Jan Johnson

{{Short description|American pole vaulter (1950–2025)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{citation style|date=September 2021}}
{{Sources|date=February 2025}}
}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name           = Jan Johnson
| image          =
| image_size     =
| caption        =
| birth_date     = {{birth date|1950|11|11}} 
| birth_place    = [[Hammond, Indiana]], U.S.
| death_date     = {{death date and age|2025|02|23|1950|11|11}}
| death_place    = [[Atascadero, California]], U.S.
| headercolor    = lightsteelblue
| show-medals    = yes
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Athletics (sport)|Athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Munich]] | [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics|Pole vault]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1971 Pan American Games|1971 Cali]] | [[Athletics at the 1971 Pan American Games|Pole vault]]}}
}}

'''Jan Johnson''' (November 11, 1950 – February 23, 2025) was an American athlete who competed mainly in the [[pole vault]]. He graduated in 1972 from the [[University of Alabama]], where he holds the school record in the pole vault at {{convert|18|ft|0.5|in}}. Johnson was born in [[Hammond, Indiana]].

He competed for the United States in the [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Summer Olympics]] held in [[Munich]], [[Germany]], where he won the bronze medal.

Johnson held a world indoor record at {{convert|17|ft|7|in}} while competing for the [[University of Kansas]]. He transferred to Alabama, where he became a three-time [[NCAA]] champion. He won the 1971 [[USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships]] for the [[Alabama Crimson Tide]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.usatf.org/statistics/champions/USAOutdoorTF/men/mPV.asp |access-date=October 20, 2012 }}{{dead link|date=March 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} USA Pole Vault Champions</ref> He was also a [[long jump]]er and sprinter in both high school and college.

Johnson won the 1968 Illinois state high school championship while competing at [[Bloom High School]] in [[Chicago Heights]], Illinois. In 1972, the gymnasium of [[Rickover Junior High School]] in [[Sauk Village]], Illinois was dedicated and named in his honor. His younger brother Tim Johnson, set the National HS indoor record of {{convert|16|ft|7|in}} in 1974. His daughter, [[Chelsea Johnson|Chelsea]], became a two-time NCAA outdoor champion in the pole vault for UCLA. Chelsea was silver medalist for the U.S. in the [[2009 World Championships in Athletics - Women's pole vault|women's pole vault]] at the [[2009 World Championships in Athletics]] in [[Berlin]].<ref>[https://www.legacy.usatf.org/about/leadership/OffTheRecordBlog/?b=39 USATF]{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>[http://www.legacy.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Johnson_Chelsea.asp USATF bio]</ref>

Jan Johnson ran "Sky Jumpers," a pole vault camp based on the central coast of California.<ref>[http://www.legacy.usatf.org/groups/Coaches/education/specialPrograms/2006/Southern%20CA%20All%20Sports%20Coaches%20Clinic/schedule.asp Coaching]</ref> Johnson also hosted auxiliary "Sky Jumpers" camps annually in Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Johnson was an outspoken innovator and advocate for pole vault safety. He co-authored The Illustrated History of the Pole Vault, published in 2007. His second book: "The High Flyer and the Cultural Revolution" was published and received positive reviews.

Johnson died in [[Atascadero, California]], on February 23, 2025, at the age of 74.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaither |first1=Joe |title=Former Alabama Olympian Passes Away: Roll Call, February 26, 2025 |url=https://www.si.com/college/alabama/all-things-bama/former-alabama-olympian-passes-away-roll-call-february-26-2025-01jn0aaj3tf7 |access-date=February 26, 2025 |publisher=Si |date=February 26, 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Sports-reference|jo/jan-johnson-1}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100120094629/http://vstraining.com/sky/index.php Official Website]

{{Footer Pan American Champions Pole Vault Men}}
{{Footer US NC Pole Vault Men}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1972 Summer Olympics}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Jan}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:American male pole vaulters]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1971 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:People from Sauk Village, Illinois]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Cook County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1971 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Bloom High School alumni]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]


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{{US-athletics-Olympic-medalist-stub}}