John Landy
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John Michael Landy, AC, CVO, MBE, (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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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.
Athletics
During his school years, Landy enjoyed watching 1500m 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 3:58. That record held for almost two years. Image:Landy and Clarke.jpg
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, and race. This meeting of the world's two fastest milers was called 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.
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 back to check on fellow runner Ron Clarke after another runner clipped Clarke's heel, causing Clarke to fall, early in the third lap of the race. Clarke, the then-junior 1500m 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]
Accomplishments
Second man in the world to run a sub-four minute mile which he did on June 21, 1958 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, AO.
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. 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.
References
- The Perfect Mile: The Perfect Mile: Three Athletes, One Goal, and Less Than Four Minutes to Achieve It, by Neal Bascomb, 2004, ISBN 0618391126
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| Bronze medal | 1956 Melbourne | Athletics Men's 1500 metres |
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Categories: 1930 births | Living people | Governors of Victoria | Middle distance runners | Members of the Order of the British Empire | Companions of the Order of Australia | People of Melbourne | Olympic competitors for Australia | Athletes at the 1952 Summer Olympics | Athletes at the 1956 Summer Olympics | Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order