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John LandyFormer Australian runner
Date of Birth: 12.04.1930
Country:  Australia |
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Biography of John Landy
Early Life and Athletic CareerJohn Landy, the former Australian athlete and 26th Governor of Victoria from 2001 to 2006, was born on April 12, 1930, in Melbourne. He attended prestigious schools, including Malvern Memorial Grammar School and Geelong Grammar School, and graduated from Melbourne University in 1954 with a bachelor's degree in agriculture. Landy developed an interest in watching middle-distance runners while in school and demonstrated his own talent as a gifted athlete. In 1949, he joined the Geelong Guild Athletic Club.
Landy represented Australia in the Olympic team at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki and the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. He took the Olympic Oath at the Melbourne Games. On June 21, 1954, during an international meet in Turku, Finland, Landy became the second person in the world to run a mile in under four minutes, following Englishman Roger Bannister. Landy set a new record with a time of 3:57.9 (rounded to 3:58.0) and held the record for over three years. Bannister and Landy were considered the world's best runners at the time and were regarded as rivals.
The "Miracle Mile"
One of Landy's most famous races took place at the 1954 Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada. On August 7, Landy ran a mile in under four minutes for the second time but was defeated by Roger Bannister, who achieved his personal best. However, Landy was unable to break Bannister's world record at that time. This race, which brought together the fastest runners of that era, is remembered as the "Miracle Mile," the "Race of the Century," and the "Race of Dreams." Approximately 100 million people followed the race on the radio, while several million watched the broadcast on television. A bronze sculpture created in 1967 by Vancouver sculptor Jack Harman captured the iconic moment when Landy looked over his left shoulder as Bannister passed him on the right. Landy made a sarcastic remark about the sculpture, saying, "If Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back, I'm probably the only person in the world who has been turned into bronze for looking back."
Political Career and Later Life
On January 1, 2001, Landy was inaugurated as the 26th Governor of Victoria, succeeding Sir James Gobbo. He was appointed by Victoria's Premier, Steve Bracks. In his final month as Governor, on March 15, 2006, the 75-year-old Landy became the last runner to carry the Queen's message during the Commonwealth Games relay at the opening ceremony in Melbourne. Traditionally, the final runner is one of the country's best and most respected athletes. Landy's term as Governor ended on April 7, 2006.
Outside of the athletics track, Landy had a successful career at ICI Australia. From 1971 to 1978, he served on the Land Conservation Council of Victoria and participated in numerous discussions. As a passionate naturalist, he also authored two books on natural history. Landy received numerous sports and professional awards throughout his long life and was awarded several honorary doctorates. He married Lynn in 1971, and they have two children, Matthew and Alison. In 1988, a mini-series titled "The Four Minute Mile" was released, recounting the rivalry between Landy and Roger Bannister. Landy was portrayed by actor Nique Needles.
