Running News Daily

John Landy was a very special man

"The most incredibly stupid, beautiful, foolish, gentlemanly act I have ever witnessed." is how one spectator, a prominent Australian minister, described the mid-race occurence as pictured here.

I am saddened to share the news of the passing of mile legend, John Landy at the age 91.

You may best remember him for looking left while Roger Bannister passed on his right during the iconic 4 lapper dubbed the Miracle Mile at the 1954 Commonwealth Games.

Or perhaps you prefer to recall Landy as the second man under four minutes...his 3:57.9, run in Turku Finland, came just 46 days after the more widely lauded Bannister barrier breaker.

But when I think of John Landy, my very first image of him comes from the 1956 Australian National Championships. In an announced goal prior to that meeting's one mile run, Landy hoped to break his own world record.

Instead, midway through said mile, one that attracted 22,000 spectators, there was some jostling that caused a runner to go down on the cinders. It was the 19-year old Aussie national junior champ, Ron Clarke. Landy, hurdled over the fallen competitor but clipped the youngster's shoulder with his spikes. Rather than continue forward, Landy stopped, turned around and lent Clarke a hand back to his feet.

Now, some 60 yards behind the leaders, Landy, one by one, reeled in the entire field and went on to win in a remarkable 4:04.2.

John Landy's one mile world record may have lasted just three years, but his selfless act of sportsmanship shall endear him to this track fan into perpetuity.