Career
He had also competed in the same event at the 1936 Summer Olympics, finishing 17th behind younger teammate Harold Whitlock. Johnson and Whitlock crossed paths in their career many times. Earlier in 1936, Johnson defeated Whitlock in the British Racewalking Association 50K walk by a mere 4 seconds only to be disqualified for loss of contact in the final stages of the race.
Whitlock"s official time from that 1936 race 4:30:38 was the British record for 20 years, which would have been Johnson"s had he not been DQed.
Johnson succeeded Whitlock as the national coach. He also served as RWA president
Johnson continued walking until he was 70.