Landy memorial held where he struck gold in ’56

Today, a state memorial service is being held at the MCG for the late John Landy.

The former Geelong athlete was the first Aussie to break the four-minute mile and served two terms as Victorian Governor.

Landy joined the Geelong Atheltic Club in 1949, and won gold at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, but is remembered as the man who stopped mid-race to help fellow athlete and rival Ron Clarke after he fell – before returning to the race, and winning 

He passed away at his Castlemaine home earlier this year aged 91.

The memorial is being held at the MCG from 10 o’clock.

 

 

 

Images:

Header: John G. Zimmerman

Second: A plaque at the John Landy Oval in South Geelong [https://monumentaustralia.org.au]

Last: Landy on the front page of the May 1956 edition of Sports Illustrated