John Davies (runner)

John Llewellyn Davies MBE (25 May 1938 – 21 July 2003) was a New Zealand Olympic bronze medallist and president of the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC).[1]

For the Welsh runner, see John Davies (steeplechase runner).
John Davies
MBE
Davies at the 1964 Olympics
Personal information
Born(1938-05-25)25 May 1938
London, England
Died21 July 2003(2003-07-21) (aged 65)
Auckland, New Zealand
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb)
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportAthletics
Event(s)1500 m
ClubWaikato
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)1500 m – 3:39.6 (1964)
Medal record
Representing  New Zealand
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1964 Tokyo 1500 metres
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 1962 Perth 1 mile

Biography

Davies was born in London, England, to Welsh parents, and in 1953 moved to New Zealand with his family. The family settled in Tokoroa.[2] He won a bronze medal in the 1500 metres at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, and a silver medal in the one mile event at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth.[1]

Davies retired due to long-term injuries, and after that coached middle- and long-distance athletes, including 1976 Olympic 5000 m silver medallist Dick Quax, 1982 Commonwealth Games 3000m Gold Medalist Anne Audain who also broke the World 5000m record the same year. 1992 Olympic Marathon bronze medallist Lorraine Moller and 1996 Olympic 800 m finalist Toni Hodgkinson. He also contributed to sport as administrator and television commentator.[1]

In the 1990 Queen's Birthday Honours, Davies was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to athletics.[3] In October 2000, Davies succeeded Sir David Beattie to become the NZOC president.[4] In 2003 he was awarded the Leonard Cuff medal by the International Olympic Academy for promoting olympism, only weeks before he died of melanoma.[1][5]

References
  1. John Davies Archived 1 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
  2. Maddaford, Terry (25 July 2003). "Obituary: John Davies". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  3. "No. 52174". The London Gazette. 16 June 1990. p. 30.
  4. "NZ Olympic boss Davies dies". The New Zealand Herald. 21 July 2003. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  5. "Olympic idealist". New Zealand Listener. Retrieved 27 June 2012.


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