1956: Rafer, Milt or Mathias

[Bob H]

Re: 1956: Rafer, Milt or Mathias

Let me add a tale to this stew. A few years ago, Visa invited all of the living US decathlon OG gold medalists to some kind of event held in conjunction with the Penn Relays. Mathias, Rafer, Milt, Toomey, Jenner, Dan O'B. All of them showed up except one (and I don't remember which one) and there was a press conference that I attended. Somebody asked them all to comment on who would win a hypothetical competition among them, with each in his prime. All but one of them gave a cautious and respectful answer, pointing out in various ways how difficult it was to compare athletes of different eras, with changing tracks, implements, shoes, training methods, etc. One of them, however, asserted energetically and unequivocally that he would have beaten all of these guys every time. His self-confidence was just awesome. We all came away thinking that although none of us would have put him at the top of the list, somehow Milt Campbell would have indeed beaten them all.

In retrospect, it must be observed that Campbell has been making his living recently as a motivational speaker--and people who have seen him say he's a very good one. It is not surprising that he exudes confidence. It's what he sells. But nobody wins an Olympic decathlon gold without an incredible fire in his belly. When these men were in their prime, they all must have had it. In retirement, the competitive juices sometimes don't flow the way they once did. Obviously, Campbell's still do.

That doesn't answer the unanswerable question, but I must say that I wouldn't argue against anyone who says that Campbell would have won no matter who was healthy and competing at the time.

[1.97hjsteve]

Re: 1956: Rafer, Milt or Mathias

well I looked the '56 OG meet up..... Johnson scratched from the LJ, then later in the week only beat Campbell by 4 points in the Dec. LJ. It was a bad pit ( read article on Bell's win in LJ ) and Johnson and Campbell both jumped right at 24 feet. Without a 1956 decath. scoring table I could not calculate how much farther Rafer would have needed to jump to have won.

But Campbell was a great athlete and a worthy champion.

[parkerclay]

Re: 1956: Rafer, Milt or Mathias

With 3 years of little competition nor training, Bob nevertheless competed in the 1956 inter-service championships in Los Angeles, he scored 7193 points, without running a 1500. Could an in-shape Mathias broken 8000 at the '56 Games ??

[Per Andersen]

Re: 1956: Rafer, Milt or Mathias

I believe Rafer Johnson was the greatest decathlete of all time. Had Mathias competed in Melbourne Johnson would have beaten him, had he been healthy. The question is would Mathias have beaten Campbell. I am far from sure. Johnson had torn stomach muscles and a bad knee in Melbourne and did not compete in the Long Jump but he was on the team. Milton Campbell is not to be overlooked. I don't think he got close to his potential in the Deca. In '57 he set a w-rec 13.4 in the 120. I suppose I rank Mathias ahead of Campbell but during a couple of seasons during those days there was a feeling that Johnson could do almost anything. He had a 10.4 or a 10.5 100m and he came a close second to Lee Calhoun in the High Hurdles one year in the N.C.A.A. I dont't consider him healthy in Rome in 1960 yet he compensated by being an excellent thrower and beat Yang in one of the most exciting Decas of all time.

[1.97hjsteve]

Re: 1956: Rafer, Milt or Mathias

time to do a little research when i get home. Believe Johnson had a bad knee.... how far did he jump in the Dec LJ ? And am I imagining it or did he also finish 3rd in the FOT in the LJ, behind Bell and Bennett.... and then if so did he compete in the reg LJ in Melbourne ?

Time to hit the old volumes tonight... but I bet Garry or someone will beat me to it !

We all know Milt won the '56 decathlon over an injured Rafer Johnson with Kuznetsov finishing 3rd. How would a healthy Rafer and a still active Mathias done in '56?? (Remember, Mathias would have been only 26)