John Landy - The Sportsman
I (Tom Locke) first met John Landy in his role as Commissioner - General for Australia at Expo 86 in Vancouver during a charity run I was participating in. I found him attentive, humble and blessed with a great sense of humour.
By the time we met again in August of 1993, I had found out a lot more about this man seen on the left gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated on May 21, 1956. At that time he was still the world record holder for the mile run at 3:58, a time that would hold up until July 1957.
However, many Australians remember John Landy for another remarkable feat, one that took place during the 1500 metre run at the Australian National Championships in 1956 prior to the Melbourne Olympics.
In the third lap of this race there was a spill with Ron Clarke, the then-junior 1500 metre world champion, going down. Landy stopped running and doubled back to make sure Ron was up and okay. Landy then went on to catch the rest of the field and win the race - yet another, " miracle moment in time". Said the National Centre for History and Education in Australia, "It was a spontaneous gesture of sportsmanship and it has never been forgotten."
By the time we met again in August of 1993, I had found out a lot more about this man seen on the left gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated on May 21, 1956. At that time he was still the world record holder for the mile run at 3:58, a time that would hold up until July 1957.
However, many Australians remember John Landy for another remarkable feat, one that took place during the 1500 metre run at the Australian National Championships in 1956 prior to the Melbourne Olympics.
In the third lap of this race there was a spill with Ron Clarke, the then-junior 1500 metre world champion, going down. Landy stopped running and doubled back to make sure Ron was up and okay. Landy then went on to catch the rest of the field and win the race - yet another, " miracle moment in time". Said the National Centre for History and Education in Australia, "It was a spontaneous gesture of sportsmanship and it has never been forgotten."
