John Landy
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John Michael Landy AC, CVO, MBE, KStJ (born April 12, 1930) is a former track athlete and was the 26th Governor of Victoria, Australia. He married his wife, Lynne, in 1971, and they have two children. While serving as Governor, John and Lynne Landy resided at Government House, Melbourne. He retired from the position after serving a five-year term on 7 April 2006, and was succeeded by medical researcher David de Kretser.
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[edit] Education
Born in Melbourne, John Landy attended school at Malvern Memorial Grammar School and Geelong Grammar School. He graduated from Melbourne University in 1954, receiving a Bachelor of Agricultural Science.
Over the years, Landy has been awarded numerous honorary degrees. The first being in 1994 of Doctor of Laws by the University of Victoria. Then, in 1997, a Doctor of Rural Science from the University of New England, followed by a Doctor of Laws from The University of Melbourne in 2003 and Doctor of Laws by Deakin University in 2004.
[edit] Athletics
During his school years, Landy enjoyed watching 1500 m track events. He became a serious runner during his college years, and was a member of the Australian Olympic team at both the 1952 Summer Olympics and 1956 Summer Olympics. During his running career, he held the world records for the 1500 metre run and the mile race.
On June 21, 1954, at an international meet in Finland, Landy became the second man after Roger Bannister to achieve a sub-4 minute mile, recording a world record time of 3:57.9, ratified by the IAAF as 3:58.0 owing to the rounding rules then in effect. That record held for more than three years.
Worldwide, Landy is probably best known for his part in a mile race in the British Empire Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, in August 1954. Landy ran his second sub-4 minute mile in the race, but lost to Roger Bannister, who had his best-ever time. This meeting of the world's two fastest milers was called "The Miracle Mile", the "Race of the Century" and the "Dream Race"; it was heard over the radio by 100 million people and seen on television by millions more. On the final turn of the last lap, as Landy looked over his left shoulder, Bannister passed him on the right. A larger-than-life bronze sculpture of the two men at this moment was created by Vancouver sculptor Jack Harman in 1967 from a photograph by Vancouver Sun photographer Charlie Warner and stood for many years at the entrance to Empire Stadium; after the stadium was demolished the sculpture was moved a short distance away to the Hastings and Renfrew entrance of the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) fairgrounds. Regarding this sculpture, Landy quipped that "While Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back, I am probably the only one ever turned into bronze for looking back."[citation needed]
In Australia, Landy is perhaps most famously remembered for his performance in the 1500 metres final at the 1956 Australian National Championships prior to the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games. In the race, Landy stopped and doubled backed to check on fellow runner Ron Clarke after another runner clipped Clarke's heel, causing him to fall early in the third lap of the race. Clarke, the then-junior 1500 m world champion, who had been leading the race, got back to his feet and started running again; Landy followed. Incredibly, in the final two laps Landy made up a large deficit to win the race, something considered one of the greatest moments in Australian sporting history. Said the National Centre for History and Education in Australia, "It was a spontaneous gesture of sportsmanship and it has never been forgotten." [1]
[edit] Accomplishments
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's Athletics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 1956 Melbourne | 1,500 metres | |
Second man in the world to run a sub-four minute mile which he did on June 21, 1954 in Turku, Finland.
On January 1, 2001, Landy was appointed by Premier Steve Bracks as the 26th Governor of Victoria, succeeding Sir James Gobbo. He retired as Governor on 7 April 2006, being succeeded by Professor David de Kretser AC KStJ.
In 1955, John Landy was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for Services to Sport, and in 2001 he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) and a Knight of Grace of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (KStJ). In 2006 he was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) during The Queen's visit to Australia.
He was Commissioner-General for the Australian exhibit at Expo 92.
An avid naturalist, Landy has written two books on natural history. He worked as senior manager at ICI Australia, and had a successful public speaking career.
On March 15, 2006, John Landy was the final runner in the Queen's Baton at the MCG stadium during the 2006 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, presenting the baton to the Queen.
[edit] References
- The Perfect Mile: Three Athletes, One Goal, and Less Than Four Minutes to Achieve It, by Neal Bascomb, 2004, ISBN 0-618-39112-6
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| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
Preceded by Roger Bannister |
Men's Mile World Record Holder June 21, 1954 – July 19, 1957 |
Succeeded by Derek Ibbotson |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir James Gobbo |
Governor of Victoria 2001-2006 |
Succeeded by David de Kretser |
