Inside Gate 2 of the Members’ Reserve sits our Wall of Excellence, showcasing our MCC athletes who have excelled at their chosen sport.
From football and cricket to netball, rowing and hockey –each week we profile a member from the Wall and celebrate their accomplishments.John Landy – Athletics
John Landy was the 26th Governor of Victoria.However, before being sworn into office in 2001, Landy was an accomplished runner, competing at the Olympics in the middle distance events.
The Melbourne-born athlete competed at both the 1952 Helsinki and 1956 Melbourne Olympics, claiming bronze in the 1500m in Melbourne
Landy was the second man to run a mile in under four minutes in 1954, recording a then-world-record time of 3:57:9.
He would run his second sub-four-minute mile later that year at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games event, finishing second behind Roger Bannister – the first man to run a mile under four minutes. This race of the two fastest milers would be known as the ‘Race of the Century’.
A sculpture of Landy and fellow miler Ron Clarke is located in Olympic Park in Melbourne, depicting the moment Landy stopped mid-race at the 1956 Australian National Championships to check on Clarke following a fall. Both runners continued the race, with Landy eventually going on to win.
Career Highlights
- Olympic bronze (1956)
- British Empire and Commonwealth Games silver (1954)