AUSTRALIAN ATHLETICS
     
     

Australian athletics stars of the Menzies Era included:

  • Betty Cuthbert (running) (born 1938 in Merrylands, NSW)
    The "Golden Girl" set 16 world records.
    She was the second woman to win four Olympic track gold medals:
    (100m, 200m & 4x100m gold in the 1956 Olympics and 400m gold in the 1964 Olympics)
    (She was injured in 1960 and missed the Rome Olympics)
    Betty Cuthbert was awarded an MBE in 1965.
    She is now suffering from multiple sclerosis and is a campaigner for funds for research into this disease.
     
  • Ron ClarkeRon Clarke (running) (born 1937)
    After breaking 12 national and 3 world junior records, Ron Clarke was considered to be Australia's most promising young athlete and was selected to light the flame at the 1956 Olympic Games.
    in his career, he broke 18 world records from one mile to 20,000 metres
    In 1966, he held 6 world records (3 miles, 6 miles, 10 miles, 5,000 metres, 10,000 metres & 20,000 metres)
    Ron Clarke was elected mayor of the Gold Coast in 2004.
     
  • Herb Elliott (running) (born 1938 in Perth)
    Herb Elliot World records in 1500m & mile
    2 Commonwealth gold (1958)
    1500m Olympic gold (1960)
    Herb Elliott was regarded as the world's greatest middle-distance runner when he retired in 1961 after almost nine years without having lost a race.
    In 1997, he was appointed Director of Athlete and Corporate Relations with the Australian Olympic Committee.

     

  • Marjorie Jackson (running) (born 1931 in Coffs Harbour, NSW)
    The "Lithgow Flash" broke 10 world records during her career.
    4 British Empire (now Commonwealth) gold medals in 1950 and 3 Commonwealth gold medals in 1954.
    100m & 200m Olympic gold (1956)
    In 1977, her husband died of leukaemia and since then she has worked to raise funds for research into the disease.
     
  • John Landy (running) (born 1930 in Melbourne)
    John Landy was the second man in the world to break the 4-minute mile (46 days after Roger Bannister)
    He broke the mile and 1500m world records in 1954.
    He came out of retirement when Melbourne, Victoria (his home town) was selected to host the 1956 Olympics and won the 1500m bronze medal. 
      
    Landy jumping over ClarkeIn the 1956 Australian National 1 Mile Championships (and Olympic trials), Ron Clarke tripped and Landy had to jump over him. In doing so, his spikes tore the flesh of Clarke's shoulder. Despite the importance of the race and the fact that Land looked certain to break the world record, he stopped, helped Clarke to his feet and checked that his shoulder was not badly injured before continuing with the race. Despite being 60 yards behind the field, Landy caught the leaders within the last 10 yards to win the race a time of 4 minutes 4 seconds.

    John Landy became an agricultural scientist and environmentalist. In 2001, he was appointed Governor of Victoria.
     

  • Shirley Strickland (running) (born 1925 in Western Australia)
    Shirley Strickland was the first Australian woman to win an Olympic medal in athletics and, with seven, has won more than any other Australian woman.
    4x100m relay Olympic silver (1948)
    100m sprint & 80m hurdles Olympic bronze (1948)
    80m hurdles Olympic gold (1952)
    100m sprint Olympic bronze (1952)
    4x100m relay Olympic gold (1956)
    80m hurdles Olympic gold & world record (1956)
    She retired in 1956 and became a lecturer in statistics and mathematics.
     
  • Perce Cerutty training herb ElliotPerce Cerutty (running coach) (born 1895)
    Perce Cerutty took up a strict diet and exercise regime when his health collapsed in 1939. This was so successful that he began setting records, including 100 miles in 24 hours. In 1948, he began applying his demanding techniques to coaching athletes. His successes included John Landy and Herb Elliott.
   

 

 

Australian Athletics memorabilia available now:

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The Menzies Era   Australian Athletics
 
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