I'm an Aussie and my country has a very strong sporting rivalry with New Zealand but I truly admire and respect what the Kiwis have achieved in sports. We Aussies like to think that we punch above our weight but the population of New Zealand is less than that of Sydney's. Despite being such a small country the Kiwis have accomplished numerous remarkable feats in sports inc having had for many years the world's best or near best rugby team, in the All Blacks .. Amazing stuff.
So wonderful to see this footage. As distance runners in Australia in the 1970s, all we had to go on were still photos of John Walker. To see him in action is magic.
John Walker had the most majestic running form of anyone. No one comes close to his exceptionally efficient running style. He was fun to watch. Thanks for posting.
Walker was a salesman for a radio station and I was the media director of a major ad agency, so I made sure he earned enough to be able to run when and where he needed.
John Walker broke the world mile, going under 3:50 for the first time in history-great. There was no stopping John in the 1500 m. at Montreal. Walker was a role model for young NZ athletes.
Fantastic upload. Thanks for posting it. I've been looking for years to see John Walker's Mile world record run. He ran sub 56 seconds for the last 440 yards!
Ahhh. The couple of beers. But really. The physical prowess. And the sheer guts and effort. All that training paid off. Inspirational. Yes a historic moment. I was 12 at the time.
You see the amazing spurt Walker throws in at about 2:31 (on the video) when he glances over and sees Wolhuter right there. He gains three or four yards almost instantly. Incredible.
Nice, watched him in 1976, and he ran passed me along great south rd Manurewa, I was working in my uncle's service station in 1980, I got the shock of my life, 😁
used to watch this legend when i was a kid back in NZ, Wow was totally mesmerized by how it looked like Mr Walker would have no chance but then just took of and blitzed them all, a true champion
So from that era to this era 46 years later - the fact that 'Kiwi's can fly is a statement from reknown Authors and famous young men & women in the category of Sports people of NZ & the world, So now it is 2022 and I agree that we kiwi still do ok in SPORTS cheers David Sullivan I enjoy the rivalry that exists between our two Countries.
Ken Hall from Australia was second in this race. He personally asked me to time him over a 1,200 metre time trial before he went to Europe to race John Walker.
Maaaaaaaaaàaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan !!!!!!!! That's FANTASTIC !!!!!! CAN you remember what time he did ??? HE went through 1200 in 2:53 in Gothenburg behind walker then got buried by John but still SMASHED 4:00 minutes !!!!!!! BRILLIANT !!!!!!!
As long as it took for Ryun’s record to be broken (10 years) marginally by Bayi, then more significantly by 1.5 seconds by Walker…only 18 years would pass before it would be taken light years lower, more than 5 seconds, by Morceli followed by El Guerrouj knocking the bottom out of that, where it remains today. These celebratory clips seem almost quaint considering what would ensue so soon after the breaching of the 3:50 barrier, as we saw in the wake of Bannister’s first dip under 4:00.
The only thing that put a damper on Walker's victory in Montreal was the fact that Filbert Bayi wasn't there. Many have speculated that if it wasn't for the African boycott that the 1500 final probably would have been an all time classic with the potential of a world record. Unfortunately we never got such a duel.
Brian Washington It doesn't help Baiya came down with Malaria during that training cycle and wouldn't have been able to run anyway. /: Lost opportunities.
Joe Beery Wow. I didn't know about the malaria. Of course, I was only ten at the time and really hadn't become a track fan until I got a little older. At least he did win an Olympic medal in 80 when he took silver in the 3000 steeplechase. However, that still doesn't keep me from thinking about what might have been.
Agreed, it would've been an incredible duel in the 1500 at Montreal. Also, Walker beat Bayi twice in Europe in '74 in the 1500, so overall, Walker beat Bayi more than Bayi beat Walker. With Walker's mile time at 3:49.4 in '75, Walker had the edge going into Montreal but it still would've been a helluva' race, no doubt Bayi would have gone balls to the wall from jumpstreet.
I'm an Aussie and my country has a very strong sporting rivalry with New Zealand but I truly admire and respect what the Kiwis have achieved in sports. We Aussies like to think that we punch above our weight but the population of New Zealand is less than that of Sydney's. Despite being such a small country the Kiwis have accomplished numerous remarkable feats in sports inc having had for many years the world's best or near best rugby team, in the All Blacks .. Amazing stuff.
I remember watching John walker run as a kid . He was a truly gifted runner with a huge engine .
So wonderful to see this footage. As distance runners in Australia in the 1970s, all we had to go on were still photos of John Walker. To see him in action is magic.
John Walker had the most majestic running form of anyone. No one comes close to his exceptionally efficient running style. He was fun to watch. Thanks for posting.
Imo Seb Coe form was the most beautiful form I have ever seen but Hicham El Guerouj form is smooth and efficient
My mum told me the only day they were late to church was the day they were listening to this race on the radio.
Walker was a salesman for a radio station and I was the media director of a major ad agency, so I made sure he earned enough to be able to run when and where he needed.
Great story !
I’d love to meet him
John Walker broke the world mile, going under 3:50 for the first
time in history-great. There was no stopping John in the 1500 m.
at Montreal. Walker was a role model for young NZ athletes.
He inspired me, and now i'm going to grow up and break 3:40
He sure was and the nz had a good Olympics in 1976, proud of all of them
As a runner, he was one of my middle distance heroes, big time!
True super star with the strength of a lion. Great watching Sir John Walker.
74-76 he was at his heights of his powers globally, but managed to run well into 1990. A long career, running 100 sub 4 min miles amazing 🤩
Fantastic upload. Thanks for posting it. I've been looking for years to see John Walker's Mile world record run. He ran sub 56 seconds for the last 440 yards!
Ahhh. The couple of beers. But really. The physical prowess. And the sheer guts and effort. All that training paid off. Inspirational. Yes a historic moment. I was 12 at the time.
You see the amazing spurt Walker throws in at about 2:31 (on the video) when he glances over and sees Wolhuter right there. He gains three or four yards almost instantly. Incredible.
I met and got the autograph of John (not a Sir then) as a kid around '79 or so at the Mason Dixon Games indoor meet in Kentucky. He won the 1500.
this is my great uncle :D
Nice, watched him in 1976, and he ran passed me along great south rd Manurewa, I was working in my uncle's service station in 1980, I got the shock of my life, 😁
used to watch this legend when i was a kid back in NZ, Wow was totally mesmerized by how it looked like Mr Walker would have no chance but then just took of and blitzed them all, a true champion
So from that era to this era 46 years later - the fact that 'Kiwi's can fly is a statement from reknown Authors and famous young men & women in the category of Sports people of NZ & the world, So now it is 2022 and I agree that we kiwi still do ok in SPORTS cheers David Sullivan I enjoy the rivalry that exists between our two Countries.
The best in his prime and well loved
Ken Hall from Australia was second in this race. He personally asked me to time him over a 1,200 metre time trial before he went to Europe to race John Walker.
Maaaaaaaaaàaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan !!!!!!!! That's FANTASTIC !!!!!! CAN you remember what time he did ??? HE went through 1200 in 2:53 in Gothenburg behind walker then got buried by John but still SMASHED 4:00 minutes !!!!!!! BRILLIANT !!!!!!!
Always inspiring!
John has such an effortless running style.
Yes!.. victory! 👍🇳🇿
He has physique of 200 metre runner. No miler today can carry than chest and run a sub 4 let alone 3.50
One of my favorite middle distance runners when I was growing up. He was a tiger. I alway's thought he and Marty Liquori were the coolest milers.
This gentleman makes me proud to be a Kiwi.
Awesome. Never seen the Goteburg footage before but remember the b/w still clip from T&FN.
As long as it took for Ryun’s record to be broken (10 years) marginally by Bayi, then more significantly by 1.5 seconds by Walker…only 18 years would pass before it would be taken light years lower, more than 5 seconds, by Morceli followed by El Guerrouj knocking the bottom out of that, where it remains today. These celebratory clips seem almost quaint considering what would ensue so soon after the breaching of the 3:50 barrier, as we saw in the wake of Bannister’s first dip under 4:00.
The only thing that put a damper on Walker's victory in Montreal was the fact that Filbert Bayi wasn't there. Many have speculated that if it wasn't for the African boycott that the 1500 final probably would have been an all time classic with the potential of a world record. Unfortunately we never got such a duel.
Brian Washington It doesn't help Baiya came down with Malaria during that training cycle and wouldn't have been able to run anyway. /: Lost opportunities.
Joe Beery Wow. I didn't know about the malaria. Of course, I was only ten at the time and really hadn't become a track fan until I got a little older. At least he did win an Olympic medal in 80 when he took silver in the 3000 steeplechase. However, that still doesn't keep me from thinking about what might have been.
especially after Bayi's performance in the '74 Commonwealth Games
Agreed, it would've been an incredible duel in the 1500 at Montreal. Also, Walker beat Bayi twice in Europe in '74 in the 1500, so overall, Walker beat Bayi more than Bayi beat Walker. With Walker's mile time at 3:49.4 in '75, Walker had the edge going into Montreal but it still would've been a helluva' race, no doubt Bayi would have gone balls to the wall from jumpstreet.
Greatest middle-distance runner of all-time.
tommy can you download the supermilers documentary, thats first class doc.
Great runner but must have been sick as a parrott once Ovett and Coe came along.
No wonder he became the next Captain America
Snell.