John Walker (athlete)

John George Walker KNZM, CBE ( born January 12, 1952 in Papakura ) is a former New Zealand athlete who belonged in the 1970s to the world's top 1,500 -meter runners. At a height of 1.83 m his competition weight was 74 kg.

In the British Commonwealth Games in 1974 in Christchurch, he won the 800 - meter race in 1:44,92 minutes bronze behind the Kenyans John Kipkurgat and Mike Boit. About 1500 meters he won on February 2 in 3:32,52 minutes Filbert Bayi silver behind ( 3:32,16 minutes) from Tanzania. Bayi presented in this run a new world record, but Walker remained under Jim Ryuns world record of 1967.

Walker's greatest achievement was the Olympic gold medal in 1976 in Montreal in 3:39,17 minutes before the Belgians Ivo van Damme in 3:39,27 minutes and Paul -Heinz Wellmann from the Federal Republic of Germany in 3:39,33 minutes. Eight years later, Walker was eight minutes in the 5000 -meter run at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 13:24,56.

In the Commonwealth Games 1982 in Brisbane, he took the 800 meters in 1:46,23 minutes 4th place over 1500 meters, he won in a pure track separation behind the Englishman Steve Cram silver in 3:43,11 minutes. At the Commonwealth Games in 1986 in Edinburgh Walker finished in 5th place 13:35,34 minutes in 5000 -meter run. 1990 in his home in Auckland was Walker with 38 years again Twelfth over 1500 meters in 3:53,77 minutes.

John Walker has become famous primarily as a runner in the mile: On August 12, 1975, he ran in Gothenburg on this route with 3:49,4 minutes set a world record and was the first runner ever under 3:50 minutes. He succeeded as the first runner, the mile run during his career hundred times under four minutes. These services are spread over the 1973 to 1990.

1996 John Walker announced that he is suffering from Parkinson's disease.

Bests

  • 800 meters: 1:44,92 minutes ( 1974)
  • 1000 meters: 2:16,57 minutes ( 1980)
  • 1500 meters: 3:32,4 minutes ( 1975)
  • Mile: 3:49,08 minutes ( 1982)
  • 2000 meters: 4:51,44 minutes ( 1976) ( This performance was world record)
  • 3000 meters: 7:37,49 minutes ( 1982)
  • 5000 meters: 13:19,28 minutes ( 1986)
New Zealand Order of Merit Papakura District 1974 British Commonwealth Games Paul-Heinz Wellmann 5000 metres 1982 Commonwealth Games 1986 Commonwealth Games Edwin Flack Charles Bennett (athlete) Arnold Jackson (British Army officer) Albert Hill (athlete) Paavo Nurmi Harri Larva Jack Lovelock Henry Eriksson Peter Snell Pekka Vasala Peter Rono Noureddine Morceli Noah Ngeny Asbel Kiprop
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