University of Tennessee Athletics
VFL Lawrence Johnson Selected To Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
December 17, 2019 | Track & Field
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Tennessee alumnus, Olympic silver medalist and four-time NCAA Champion Lawrence Johnson has been named to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020, the organization announced last week. The world class pole vaulter from Chesapeake, Virginia, will be inducted on Saturday, April 25 at Zeiders American Dream Theater in Virginia Beach.
Â
Johnson was a member of Tennessee's track & field program from 1993-96 and enjoyed one of the most well decorated careers in school history. He captured four NCAA championships for UT in the pole vault to go along with seven individual conference titles (six pole vault, one decathlon). Following the 1996 season, Johnson was named SEC Athlete of the Year for men's outdoor track & field.
Â
Johnson's crowning achievement as a collegian came on May 25, 1996 at Tom Black Track, as he broke the American record with a clearance of 5.98m (19-7.5). Today, that mark stands as the No. 2 collegiate and No. 6 U.S. performance of all time.
Â
A seven-time U.S. pole vault champion, Johnson represented Team USA at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympics. He placed 8th in 1996 before taking home the silver medal in 2000, becoming the first African American pole vaulter to earn an Olympic medal.
Â
Johnson's career culminated with a gold medal at the 2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Lisbon, Portugal, clearing a mark of 5.95m (19-6.25) for his first world title. He had previously claimed a silver medal at the 1997 World Indoor Championships in Paris.
Â
Johnson is the seventh former Tennessee student-athlete to be enshrined into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, joining Ed Beard (football), Steve Delong (football), Bobby Dodd (football), Beattie Feathers (football), Benita Fitzgerald Mosley (track & field) and Kara Lawson (women's basketball).
Â
For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee track & field, follow @Vol_Track on Twitter.
Â
Johnson was a member of Tennessee's track & field program from 1993-96 and enjoyed one of the most well decorated careers in school history. He captured four NCAA championships for UT in the pole vault to go along with seven individual conference titles (six pole vault, one decathlon). Following the 1996 season, Johnson was named SEC Athlete of the Year for men's outdoor track & field.
Â
Johnson's crowning achievement as a collegian came on May 25, 1996 at Tom Black Track, as he broke the American record with a clearance of 5.98m (19-7.5). Today, that mark stands as the No. 2 collegiate and No. 6 U.S. performance of all time.
Â
A seven-time U.S. pole vault champion, Johnson represented Team USA at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympics. He placed 8th in 1996 before taking home the silver medal in 2000, becoming the first African American pole vaulter to earn an Olympic medal.
Â
Johnson's career culminated with a gold medal at the 2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Lisbon, Portugal, clearing a mark of 5.95m (19-6.25) for his first world title. He had previously claimed a silver medal at the 1997 World Indoor Championships in Paris.
Â
Johnson is the seventh former Tennessee student-athlete to be enshrined into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, joining Ed Beard (football), Steve Delong (football), Bobby Dodd (football), Beattie Feathers (football), Benita Fitzgerald Mosley (track & field) and Kara Lawson (women's basketball).
Â
For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee track & field, follow @Vol_Track on Twitter.
Everything Orange S2 | Sarah Schmitt (Track & Field)
Thursday, April 17
Track & Field | 400m Hurdles Feature
Wednesday, May 22
Track & Field | Tennessee Invite Recap
Wednesday, April 10
Track & Field | Battle on the Bayou Recap
Saturday, March 30
