Tony Johnson (rower)
Philip Anthony Johnson is a retired American rower. He competed in coxless pairs at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics and won a silver medal in 1968.
Johnson was born in Washington, D.C., and began his rowing career under the legendary Charlie Butt at Washington-Lee High School. He continued to row at Syracuse University and the Potomac Boat Club. At the 1964 Summer Olympics, he placed tenth together with James Edmonds. His breakthrough came in 1967, when, together with Larry Hough, he won the Pan American Games, the National Championship, the North American Championship, and the European Championship. Next year they placed second at the 1968 Olympics, and in 1969 won another European title.
Johnson graduated from Syracuse University, and in 1972 served as an assistant U.S. Olympic rowing coach; he later prepared the national team to the 1975 and 1985 world championships. Since 1989 he has directed the rowing program at Georgetown University. He first coached the Georgetown crew from 1967 to 1969 before moving to Yale University for 20 years. In guiding the sport of crew on the Hilltop, Johnson has overseen significant growth of the program, strengthening the foundation for even greater success in the future. He was the only full-time coach in 1990 when he returned to Georgetown in 1990.
