Olympian John Landy dies aged 91 surrounded by family, friends

Legendary Australian athlete and former Governor of Victoria John Landy has been remembered as an “athlete beyond compare” by the Premier as a State Memorial Service is scheduled.

Australian sporting icon and former Governor of Victoria John Landy will be farewelled with a State Memorial Service.

Landy passed away at his Castlemaine home on Thursday with his family by his side, aged 91.

His family has accepted the offer of a State Memorial Service from the Victorian Government where the community can pay tribute to his legacy and contribution to the state.

Landy will be laid to rest at a private funeral service.

Landy, the second man to break the four minute mile in athletics, a passionate environmentalist and the Governor of Victoria from 2001 to 2006, passed away at his home in Castlemaine on Thursday with his wife Lynne, son Matthew and daughter Alison by his side.

He had long battled Parkinson’s disease.

Matthew Landy confirmed his father’s peaceful passing.

“Dad passed away peacefully on Thursday surrounded by what he loved most, his family and the Australian bush,” Matthew told the Herald Sun.

“He was a wonderful father, a loving husband and we feel privileged to have been a part of his remarkable life.”

Matthew, who is based in New York, and Alison, who resides in London, both arrived in Melbourne on Sunday to be with their father.

Remembered for his unrivalled integrity with a legacy draped in the finest Olympic ideals, Landy was one of Australia’s greatest sportspeople.

John Landy helped runner Ron Clarke after he fell during the Australian mile championship at Olympic Park in 1956.

Premier Daniel Andrews’s office said in a statement Landy lived a life like no other “a governor, an Olympian, a record breaker, and an athlete beyond compare.”

“During his time as Governor, he always worked to ensure that those in power never lost sight of the Victorians they served,” the statement said.

“He held Government to account at every step, and his service helped make Victoria a fairer and stronger state.

“John was a man of many pursuits, but Victorians will remember him most proudly as the phenomenal athlete that he was. He was the first Aussie to ever break a four-minute mile, a world record holder for the 1500-metre, and the mile race too.

“But he’s best known for the race that he stopped running.

“In 1956, at the Australian National Championships in Melbourne he stopped mid-race to check on Ron Clarke who had fallen and become injured.

“It was an act of mateship that stunned the world – an act that showed what a compassionate and principled man John was.

“And despite stopping, he went on to win the race anyway.

“John lived his values – a man of integrity – unwavering in his commitment to building up the best of our community.

“Our thoughts are with his wife Lynne, who he loved for over half a century – his children Matthew and Alison, and his grandchildren and extended family too.”

John Landy at the British Empire Games in Canada, 1954.

John Landy set a new world record after winning a one mile race in 1964.

A statue commemorating the act of unmatched athletic heroism stands of the moment near Olympic Park.

But Landy’s finesse as a runner and humanitarian drew gasps worldwide long before his humility at Olympic Park captured Australian hearts. 

He pushed himself to become the second man to break the four-minute mile barrier in the mile run and held the world records for the 1500-metre run and the mile race.

Chairman of the Sport Australia Hall Of Fame, John Bertrand, described Landy as a humble champion.

“John’s most remembered feat was in the (1956) Australian championships when Ron Clarke fell over and John stopped to help him up, made sure he was OK, and then went on to win,” Bertrand said.

“That has been immortalised as a statue and the Sport Australia Hall Of Fame elevated John to legend status, particularly for that feat, in terms of the act of sportsmanship that captured not only the imagination of Australia, but of the sporting world as well.

“John was the most humble champion you would ever come across to the extent that when as Chairman of the Sport Australia Hall Of Fame I asked John whether he would be comfortable for us to elevate him from a Member to Legend status for that feat he said, ‘No’, he didn’t deserve it.

“Several months passed and I went back to him several times and eventually he said, ‘Yes, I will accept the award.’

“The stature of the man was just enhanced even further with that type of reaction in terms of the sportsmanlike manner in which he conducted himself and the humble nature of this world champion. He was highly intelligent, a deep thinker and his values were quite supreme which I think carried him through his life so well.”

The Australian Commonwealth Games team also posted a tribute to Landy via its official Twitter account, saying his passing was “very sad news”.

“The mile of the century with Roger Bannister in Vancouver in 1954 is part of athletics history,” the tribute read.

“Condolences to John’s family, friends and teammates.”

Memorialised in Australian sporting folklore for his chivalrous act to help fellow runner Ron Clarke up to his feet after he had tripped mid-race and for his humility as Victoria’s Governor, Landy epitomised the lofty ideals of the Olympic spirit through friendship, excellence and respect.

The champion middle-distance runner from Caulfield and Geelong Grammar will be remembered for his breathtaking feat to help Clarke to his feet after he had stumbled during the Australian mile championship at Olympic Park in 1956.

As Clarke crashed down after clipping another competitor’s heel, Landy, came to him to see if he was alright. Clarke and Landy then reeled down the field. Astonishingly, Landy won the race. 

John Landy, with wife Lynne, after his appointment as Governor of Victoria in 2000.

He was a member of the Australian Olympic team at both the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki and 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, taking the Olympic Oath at the 1956 Olympics. He won a Bronze Medal in the 1956 Games in the 1500m in front of adoring crowds.

Landy also ran a second sub-4-minute mile at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, held at Vancouver, British Columbia, in the mile race.

When Landy met Bannister the race was touted as “The Miracle Mile”.

It was heard over the radio by 100 million people. A look by Landy over his left shoulder at Bannister as he was passed made headlines around the world. It also prompted a 1988 television miniseries The Four Minute Mile, detailing the rivalry between Landy and Bannister.

But he is forever bound to a feat of unparalleled sportsmanship with his friend Ron Clarke at Olympic Park.