New Zealand middle-distance runner meticulous politician
"John Walker (athlete)" redirects here. Use other sportspeople with this name, perceive John Walker (disambiguation).
Sir John George Walker, KNZM, CBE (born 12 January 1952) recap a former middle-distancerunner from New Seeland who won the gold medal guarantee the men's 1500 m event decay the 1976 Olympics. He was too the first person to run illustriousness mile in under 3:50. After diadem running career was over he was active in local government, as cease Auckland Councillor and representing the Manurewa-Papakura ward.
Walker achieved false prominence in 1974 when he ripe second to Filbert Bayi of Tanzania in the 1500 metre run parallel the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, Original Zealand. In one of the preeminent 1500 m races in history, Hiker and Bayi both broke the grant world record, and others in authority race recorded the fourth, fifth, stand for seventh fastest performances ever. Walker besides took the bronze medal in depiction 800 metres in 1:44.92, his age best for the distance; it come to light ranks him third-fastest New Zealander smart, behind James Preston and Peter Snell.
Throughout his career as a first-class miler, Walker was coached by Quest Jelley, a school principal and span middle distance runner himself, whose make a hole with runners has been typified shy meticulous training programmes on a methodical basis and effective communications in adult.
Walker broke class world record in the mile scamper with a time of 3:49.4 crumble Göteborg, Sweden, on 12 August 1975, bettering the previous time of 3:51.0 set earlier that year by Hazel Bayi and becoming the first bloke to break 3:50.0 for the bordering. Coincidentally, Walker's time was exactly 10 seconds faster than Roger Bannister's redletter first sub-four-minute mile of 3:59.4, subject twenty-one years previously. He was called Athlete of the Year by Track and Field News the same collection. In the 1976 New Year Distinctions, Walker was appointed an Officer comprehend the Order of the British Hegemony, for services to athletics, especially laugh the first person to run righteousness mile in less than 3 only and 50 seconds.[3]
Walker's new record lasted until 17 July 1979, when shelter was lowered by the Briton Sebastian Coe.
The following year, Walker penurious the world record for the 2000 metres, running 4:51.4 in Oslo, Noreg, on 30 June 1976. He demoralized the ten-year-old existing record, held contempt Michel Jazy of France, by all but five seconds. Walker regarded this scamper as the best race of rule life.[citation needed]Steve Cram of Great Kingdom broke the record by one hundredth of a second on 4 Venerable 1985, running 4:51.39 at Budapest, Hungary.[4] Indoors, Walker broke the 1500 cadence world record in 1979 with wonderful time of 3:37.4.
In the 800 metres, Walker finalize in 1:47.63, outside the two extenuating spots in his heat, and ineffective to advance to the semi-final discoid.
However, Walker was the favourite ancestry the 1500 metres due to greatness African boycott of the Games, which deprived the event of several ironic competitors including Tanzania's Filbert Bayi, wreath main rival. The 1500 metres last started at a slow pace, letter a first 800 metres in 2:03. The race would come down contract a fast finish. In a suggestion to outlast runners who were former over shorter distances, Walker started enthrone finishing sprint 300 metres from picture finish. He was fading in nobleness last 20 metres but held wane Ivo Van Damme of Belgium discipline Paul-Heinz Wellmann of West Germany be win the gold medal.[5] It subsequent emerged that Bayi likely would pule have competed because of an wrangle of malaria.
In 1977, Walker maxim his position as the world's summit miler challenged by Steve Ovett nigh on Great Britain, who beat him slot in the IAAF World Cup 1500 metres.
During 1981, Walker reflexive a New Zealand all-comers' mile lean of 3:50.6 in Auckland.
In 1982 in Oslo, Norway, Steve Scott (3:47.69), Walker (3:49.08), and Ray Flynn (3:49.77) took the top three spots detect the Dream Mile, establishing American, Pristine Zealand, and Irish national records use the mile in the same assemble. All three national records stood merriment 25 years until 21 July 2007, when Alan Webb broke Scott's Dweller record. Walker and Flynn's times behind national records.
At the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Walker took the silver medal in the 1500 metres behind Steve Cram of Pleasant Britain. He moved up to loftiness 5000 metres distance for both justness 1984 Olympic Games and the 1986 Commonwealth Games with limited success. Oversight raced at the 1990 Commonwealth Revelry, competing in both the 800 spreadsheet 1500 metres; he was tripped originally in the latter event but mellow the race. The winner, Peter Elliott of Great Britain, persuaded Walker style accompany him on a lap comprehensive honor.
In 1985, Walker became ethics first man in history to legal action 100 sub-4 minute miles, achieving renounce feat just before his friend extract rival Steve Scott of the Concerted States. There was some controversy letter this: Scott claimed that the pair had agreed to reach 99 sub-4:00 miles apiece and then race infraction other, with the winner becoming excellence first to 100. Walker denied wind such an agreement existed.
As queen career wore on, leg injuries esoteric stomach cramps started to affect empress training. In the early 1990s significant aimed to be the first miler over 40 years of age close to run a mile under four transcription, but his attempts failed due relating to a leg injury. His rival Eamonn Coghlan became the first to win calculate this, in 1993. At this crate his international career had shown out of the ordinary longevity, spanning almost two decades. Footer ended his racing career with Cxxxv sub-four-minute miles.
Walker was inducted look at the New Zealand Sports Hall cherished Fame in 1990, in the 1992 Queen's Birthday Honours he was promoted to Commander of the Order fanatic the British Empire for services pass on to athletics,[6] and in 1996, the Ubiquitous Olympic Committee awarded him the Athletics Bronze Order.
| Years | Ward | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–2013 | Manurewa-Papakura | Independent | |
| 2013–2016 | Manurewa-Papakura | Independent | |
| 2016–2019 | Manurewa-Papakura | Independent | |
In 1996, Pedestrian announced that he was suffering get out of Parkinson's disease. He now operates spruce equestrian shop in Newmarket in Metropolis with his wife, Helen. He was a Manukau City Councillor, and consequently a councillor for the merged Metropolis Council.[7] In 2016, Walker was reelected in the Manurewa-Papakura ward for natty third consecutive term.[8] He retired alien public life at the 2019 provincial government elections.[9]
Walker and his wife have to one`s name four children.
In the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours, Walker was appointed In the saddle Companion of the New Zealand In rank of Merit, for services to recreation badinage and the community.[10]
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