William Johnson
Competition | 1984
Will Johnson will go down in history as one of the most prolific and enduring athletes of his time. He competed in multiple sports from 1953 to 1982, including swimming, pentathlon, table tennis and basketball in his 30 year career. Bill competed in three Paralympic competitions, bringing home 4 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 1 bronze. He also was part of Team USA to two Stoke-Mandeville Games, garnering 4 golds and 1 silver medal. Bill was always a valuable member of the teams as he was always able to add important team points in a variety of sports.
In competition at the National Wheelchair Games, Bill was recognized for his versatility. While competing in four separate NWG’s, Bill was able to win 4 first place finishes, 6 second places and 3 third places. His participation ranged from table tennis and swimming to track and field.
Bill’s contributions to wheelchair sports didn’t end on the track or court. He was well known for his advocacy, including finding, recruiting, coaching and advising countless athletes. Many of the outstanding athletes of this time owe their start in competition to Bill Johnson. He was noted for being able to connect with people one on one and encourage each to do their best. Bill Johnson was one of those early pioneers who dedicated his time and energy to growing the National Wheelchair Athletic Association in its infancy.
