John Landy

==Athletics==

==Athletics==

During his school years, Landy enjoyed watching middle-distance track events. He became a serious runner during his university years, joining the [[Geelong Guild Athletic Club]] in 1949. He was coached by Percy Cerutty, who trained him to cut his time for running a mile down to 4 minutes, 11 seconds, earning himself a place on the Australian Olympic team at the [[1952 Summer Olympics]] in Helsinki.<ref>[http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1956 IOC 1956 Summer Olympics]. Olympic.org (6 September 2016). Retrieved on 20 September 2017.</ref><ref name=":0" /> While at the Helsinki Olympics, Landy befriended [[Emil Zatopek]], the Czech four-time gold medal-winning runner, who persuaded him to increase the intensity of his training programme. He became faster still.<ref name=":0" />

During his school years, Landy enjoyed watching middle-distance track events. He became a serious runner during his university years, joining the [[Geelong Guild Athletic Club]] in 1949. He was coached by [[Percy Cerutty]], who trained him to cut his time for running a mile down to 4 minutes, 11 seconds, earning himself a place on the Australian Olympic team at the [[1952 Summer Olympics]] in Helsinki.<ref>[http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1956 IOC 1956 Summer Olympics]. Olympic.org (6 September 2016). Retrieved on 20 September 2017.</ref><ref name=":0" /> While at the Helsinki Olympics, Landy befriended [[Emil Zatopek]], the Czech four-time gold medal-winning runner, who persuaded him to increase the intensity of his training programme. He became faster still.<ref name=":0" />

On 21 June 1954, at an international meet at [[Turku]], Finland, Landy became the second man, after [[Roger Bannister]], to achieve a sub-[[4-minute mile]]. He achieved [[Mile run world record progression|a world record time of 3:57.9]], ratified by the [[IAAF]] as 3:58.0 owing to the rounding rules then in effect. He held this record for more than three years.<ref name="nyt2022">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/25/sports/olympics/john-landy-dead.html |title=John Landy Dies at 91; Dueled Roger Bannister in 'Mile of the Century' |first1=Frank |last1=Litsky |first2=William |last2=McDonald |date=25 February 2022 |work=The New York Times |access-date=26 February 2022}}</ref>

On 21 June 1954, at an international meet at [[Turku]], Finland, Landy became the second man, after [[Roger Bannister]], to achieve a sub-[[4-minute mile]]. He achieved [[Mile run world record progression|a world record time of 3:57.9]], ratified by the [[IAAF]] as 3:58.0 owing to the rounding rules then in effect. He held this record for more than three years.<ref name="nyt2022">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/25/sports/olympics/john-landy-dead.html |title=John Landy Dies at 91; Dueled Roger Bannister in 'Mile of the Century' |first1=Frank |last1=Litsky |first2=William |last2=McDonald |date=25 February 2022 |work=The New York Times |access-date=26 February 2022}}</ref>