- John Landy
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, Matthew and Alison. [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1219458/bio IMDb biography] ] While serving as Governor, John and Lynne Landy resided atGovernment House, Melbourne . He retired from the position after serving a five-year term on 7 April 2006, and was succeeded by medical researcherDavid de Kretser .Education
Born in
Melbourne , John Landy attended school at Malvern Memorial Grammar School andGeelong Grammar School . He graduated fromMelbourne University in 1954, receiving a Bachelor ofAgricultural Science .Over the years, Landy has been awarded numerous
honorary degree s. The first being in 1994 ofDoctor of Laws by theUniversity of Victoria . Then, in 1997, a Doctor of Rural Science from the University of New England, followed by a Doctor of Laws from TheUniversity of Melbourne in 2003 and Doctor of Laws byDeakin University in 2004.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 and1956 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 afterRoger Bannister to achieve a sub-4 minute mile , recording a world record time of 3:57.9, ratified by theIAAF 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 toRoger 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." Fact|date=April 2008In 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 runnerRon 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." [http://www.hyperhistory.org/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=713&op=page]Accomplishments
Second man in the world to run a sub-four minute mile which he did on June 21, 1954 in
Turku ,Finland .Landy took the
Olympic Oath at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. [ [http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1956 IOC 1956 Summer Olympics] ]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, [ [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1084908&search_type=quick&showInd=true It's an Honour] - Member of the Order of the British Empire] , was awarded theAustralian Sports Medal in 2000, [ [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=982069&search_type=quick&showInd=true It's an Honour] - Australian Sports Medal] and in 2001 he was awarded theCentenary Medal , [ [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1119621&search_type=quick&showInd=true It's an Honour] - Centenary Medal] made aCompanion of the Order of Australia (AC) [ [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=885192&search_type=quick&showInd=true It's an Honour] - Companion of the Order of Australia] and a Knight of Grace of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. In 2006 he was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) during The Queen's visit to Australia. [ [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1129468&search_type=quick&showInd=true It's an Honour] - Commander of the Royal Victorian Order]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 atICI 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 inMelbourne , Victoria,Australia , presenting the baton to the Queen.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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