We have to wait until the summer of 2028 for Los Angeles to host the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad, but when we do, we will join Paris and London as only the third city to host the Summer Games three times, having previously done so in 1932 and famously, in 1984.
The 1984 Summer Games were one of the city's crowning achievements. During two weeks in late July/early August of that year, the United States took home 174 medals, including 83 gold. Photographers from the Los Angeles Herald Examiner newspaper were on hand to capture much of the competition, and those images now permanently reside in the Los Angeles Public Library's photo collection. In honor of African American History Month, here is a brief look at some of the black participants who helped make the 1984 Summer Olympic Games a memorable success.
Rafer Johnson, the last of the torch runners, [1984]. Photo credit: Anne Knudsen, Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection
Weightlifting. U.S. featherweight Albert Hood set American records in the snatch and total weight lifted in his finest night, [1984]. Photo credit: Paul Chinn, Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection
Scene of the USA vs Yugoslavia women's basketball game. Cheryl Miller (#9) goes for the loose ball in the midst of several Yugoslavian players, [1984]. Photo credit: James Ruebsmen, Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection
Hitter Rose Magers drives home a United States point during volleyball teams' victory over Peru in Long Beach, [1984]. Photo credit: Javier Mendoza, Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection
Scene shows Tyrell Biggs vs Damiani Francesco in this Olympics boxing match, [1984]. Photo credit: James Ruebsmen, Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection
Valerie Brisco-Hooks hold the flag and her son, Alvin Jr., after she won the women's 200 meters at the Olympic trials yesterday, [1984]. Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection
Valerie Brisco-Hooks and 200-meter silver medalist Florence Griffith, Women's 200 meters, 1984 Olympics, photo credit: Paul Chinn, Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection
Edwin Moses, despite running from an unfavorable lane, streaks to victory in the 400-meter hurdles at the Olympic Trials, [1984]. Photo credit: Paul Chinn, Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection
Carl Lewis beams and holds his fist in the air as he advanced in the 100m run, [1984]. Photo credit: Paul Chinn, Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection
