John Walker (athlete)

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For other persons named John Walker, see John Walker (disambiguation).

Medal record
John Walker (athlete)
Men’s Athletics
Competitor for New Zealand
Olympic Games
Gold	1976 Montreal	1500 metres
Commonwealth Games
Silver	1974 Christchurch	1500 metres
Silver	1982 Brisbane	1500 metres
Bronze	1974 Christchurch	800 metres

John George Walker (born January 12, 1952 in Papakura) is a former middle distance runner from New Zealand.

Walker is best known for winning the Olympic Games 1500 meters in Montreal 1976. This achievement came during an Olympic games that were boycotted by 22 African countries to protest against a tour of South Africa by the All Blacks, the New Zealand national Rugby team.

Walker had already achieved world prominence in 1974 when he ran second to Filbert Bayi in the 1500 metres at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. It was a remarkable race, as not only did both Bayi and Walker better the previous world record, but it featured the 4th, 5th and 7th fastest performances of all time. Its status as one of the all-time great 1500 metre races is assured by virtue of the fact that Walker, 22 at the time, and Bayi, 21, would prove dominant over the distance. Although it seemed the boycott denied Bayi (who was Walker's main rival) the opportunity to challenge for the 1500 meter title, Bayi likely would not have competed anyway owing to an attack of malaria he suffered. Walker would justify his Olympic Gold over several record-breaking years. Also at the 1974 Commonwealth Games Walker won the Bronze medal in the 800 metres in 1:44.92, his lifetime best for the distance and still the second fastest New Zealander ever behind Peter Snell.

Throughout his career as a world-class miler Walker was coached by Arch Jelley, school principal and middle distance runner himself, whose work with runners has been typified by meticulous training programmes on a scientific basis and effective communication in person.

Walker broke the world mile record with a time of 3:49.4 minutes set at Göteborg on August 12, 1975, bettering the previous time set by Filbert Bayi. It was the first time the 3 minutes and 50 second barrier had been bettered & was 10 seconds faster than Roger Bannister's historic first sub 4 minute mile of 3:59.4 run twenty-one years earlier.

The record lasted until July 17, 1979, when it was beaten by Briton Sebastian Coe.

Walker also held the world record for 2000 meters, running 4:51.4 in Oslo on 30 June 1976. This bettered by nearly five seconds the ten year old record of Michel Jazy. Steve Cram would take Walker's record in running 4:51.39 at Budapest on 4 August 1985. Indoors, Walker broke the 1,500 meter world record with a time of 3:37.4 in 1979.

In 1982 in Oslo, Norway, Steve Scott (3:47.69), John Walker (3:49.08), and Ray Flynn (3:49.77) took the top three spots in The Dream Mile, establishing American, New Zealand, and Irish national records for the mile in the same race. All three national records stood for 25 years until July 21, 2007, when Alan Webb broke Scott's American record. Walker and Flynn's times remain national records. The same year Walker gained a second silver medal in the 1500 metres at the Commonwealth Games when he finished behind Steve Cram.

Walker later became the first person in history to run 100 sub 4 minute miles, achieving this feat just ahead of fellow miler Steve Scott. Walker ended his career with 135 sub-four minute miles.

In 1996, Walker announced that he had Parkinson's disease. He now runs an equestrian shop in New Market in Auckland along with his wife Helen and is also a Manukau City Councillor. He has four children Elizabeth, Richard, Timothy and Caitlin.

[edit] External links

[edit] Video Links

Video Interview of John Walker talking about his Olympic Win

Records
Preceded by Filbert Bayi	Men's Mile World Record Holder August 12, 1975 — July 17, 1979	Succeeded by Sebastian Coe
Awards
Preceded by Rick Wohlhuter	Men's Track & Field Athlete of the Year 1975	Succeeded by Alberto Juantorena
Sporting positions
Preceded by Filbert Bayi	Men's 1,500 metres Best Year Performance 1975 – 1977	Succeeded by David Moorcroft