Legendary Australian athlete John Landy, renowned for his rivalry with Britain’s Roger Bannister in the 1950s, has died aged 91.
Landy became the second athlete in history, after Bannister, to run a four-minute mile.
The former mile and 1500m world record holder won Olympic bronze in the 1500m at the Melbourne Games in 1956.
“Our world is poorer without John Landy in it,” said World Athletics president Lord Coe.
During his athletics career, Melbourne-born Landy sought to make history and battled with Bannister to become the first person to beat the four-minute mile barrier.
Bannister pipped the Australian to the historic achievement, clocking three hours 59.
4 minutes in Oxford in May 1954.
But Landy went better 46 days later in Finland with a time of 3:58.
0 – a record that stood for the next three years.
“He lit the spark that led to the legendary chase for the four-minute mile between 1952 and 1954 and was one of the main protagonists in that quest,” added Coe, himself a two-time Olympic 1500m gold medallist.
“Ultimately Roger Bannister got there first but was also the first to recognise that Landy’s excellence inspired him to reach that historic landmark.
”
Landy is famously remembered for his show of sportsmanship – and superb athleticism – in the 1500m final at the 1956 Australian Track and Field Championships.
Several athletes fell in the third lap, including junior 1500m world record-holder Ron Clarke, prompting Landy to stop to see if his rival was uninjured.
After checking Clarke’s condition, Landy continued and chased down the leaders to win the event in a time of 4:04.
2.
Landy also served as the governor of his home state Victoria from 2001 to 2006.
BBC/Emmanuel Ukoh
Legendary Australian athlete John Landy dies aged 91
Share on Facebook «||»
Share on Twitter «||»
Share on Reddit «||»
Share on LinkedIn
Read Related News On TDPel Media
Advertisement
Australian middle distance icon Landy dies at 91: John Landy, the Australian middle distance runner who became the second man to break the four-minute mile, has died at 91, prompting tributes from the...
Australian Border Force sees significant increase in attempted illicit tobacco imports at the Australian border: The Australian Border Force (ABF) is seeing a significant increase in attempted illicit tobacco imports at the Australian border. Between 1 January and 31 December...
A New York police sergeant, aged 49, fatally shoots his 43-year-old wife and his two sons, aged 10 and 12, before taking his own life with the gun in a tragic murder-suicide that occurred at their residence.: Tragic Discovery in New York Home In a devastating incident, authorities made a grim discovery in a New York home, uncovering the lifeless bodies of...
Legendary Coach Clive Rowlands’ Impact Remembered by Rugby Star Barry John: Wales and Lions No.10 legend Barry John pays tribute to his former coach, Clive Rowlands, who was instrumental in leading Wales rugby during the start...
Legendary Wrestler Billy Graham Dies: A Tribute to His Contributions: …By Muyiwa Aderinto for TDPel Media. WWE Hall of Famer “Superstar” Billy Graham Passes Away Wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer “Superstar” Billy Graham...
Legendary Nigerian juju musician Emperor Pick Peter dies: Nigerian juju musician Emperor Pick Peter is dead Legendary Nigerian juju musician Peter Akanni Akorede, popularly known as Emperor Pick Peter, is dead. He dominated...
Legendary American Skier Katherine ‘Kasha’ Rigby Dies in Avalanche Tragedy at Kosovo Ski Resort: Katherine ‘Kasha’ Rigby, a renowned American telemark skier, met a tragic end at the Ski Center in Brezovica, southern Kosovo, as she was caught in...
Co-discoverer of HIV, Luc Montagnier dies aged 89: French virologist, Luc Montagnier, the man credited as a co-discoverer of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has died aged 89. Luc Montagnier died on Tuesday,...
All hail Caesar: Gentle giant police horse who protected the late Queen Elizabeth II and was named after the Roman emperor dies aged 23 after being put down due to arthritis: Regal Guardian of the Realm: Caesar, a police horse celebrated as a ‘gentle giant’ and former protector of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has passed...
Catholic athlete Sarah Escobar makes history at Winter Olympics: Catholic athlete Sarah Escobar makes history at Winter Olympics. Sarah Escobar represents Ecuador in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics / YouTube screenshot taken from ecuadorolimpicotv...