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Ron Clarke From Wikipedia

Ron Clarke
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For other people of the same name, see Ronald Clarke (disambiguation).
Ron Clarke
AO, MBE
Ron Clarke Mayor of Gold Coast.jpg
Clarke as the mayor, shown in ABC News (Australia)
Mayor of the Gold Coast
In office
25 March 2004 (2004-03-25) – 27 February 2012 (2012-02-27)
DeputyDaphne McDonald
Preceded byGary Baildon
Personal details
BornRonald William Clarke
(1937-02-21)21 February 1937
Melbourne, Victoria
Died17 June 2015(2015-06-17) (aged 78)
Southport, Queensland
Political partyIndependent
Spouse(s)Helen Clarke
OccupationAthlete
Ronald William "Ron" Clarke, AO, MBE (21 February 1937 – 17 June 2015) was an Australian athlete, writer, and Mayor of the Gold Coast from 2004 to 2012. He was one of the best known middle and long distance runners in the 1960s, notable for setting seventeen world records.


Early life and family[edit]

Clarke was born 21 February 1937 in Melbourne, Victoria.[1] He attended Essendon High School and Melbourne High School. His brother Jack Clarke and father Tom played Australian rules football in the Victorian Football League with Essendon. He was a qualified accountant.[2]
In 1956, when Clarke was still a promising 19-year-old, he was chosen to light the Olympic Flame in the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the opening ceremonies of the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne.[3]

Athletic career[edit]

Ron Clarke
Medal record
Competitor for  Australia
Men's Athletics
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place1964 Tokyo10,000 metres
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place1962 Perth3 miles
Silver medal – second place1966 Kingston3 miles
Silver medal – second place1966 Kingston6 miles
Silver medal – second place1970 Edinburgh10000 metres
During the 1960s Clarke won 9 Australian championships [4] and 12 Victorian track championships ranging from 1500 m to 6 miles (9.7 km).


Ron Clarke (12, no.1 visible) at the 1964 Summer Olympics. At the fore are Billy Mills (722) and Mohammed Gammoudi (615).
He settled for the bronze medal in the 10,000 metre (m) race at the 1964 Summer Olympics when he was upset by Billy Mills, but never won an Olympic gold medal.[1] At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Clarke collapsed and nearly died from altitude sickness[5] sustained during the gruelling 10,000 m race final. Despite training in the Alps to get acclimatised to high altitudes at Mexico City, this could not put him on par with opponents from some of the African countries, who had always run at high altitude (with the notable exception of 5,000 m gold medalist and 10,000 m bronze medalist Mohammed Gammoudi of Tunisia, who was born and lived not far above sea level). Clarke finished in sixth place,[1] but remembered nothing of the last lap. He sufficiently recovered to compete in the 5,000 metre heats a few days later.
In the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, he won silver in the 3 mile event, and in the 1966 Games he won silver medals in the 3 miles (4.8 km) and 6 miles (9.7 km) events. During a 44-day European tour in 1965, he competed 18 times and broke 12 world records, including the 20,000 m (12.4 miles). On 10 July, at London's White City Stadium, he became the first man to run 3 miles in under 13 minutes, lowering the world record to 12:52.4. Four days later, in Oslo, he lowered his own 10,000 m world record by 36.2 seconds to 27:39.4, becoming the first man to break the 28 minute barrier.
To win against a field of kickers, Clarke needed a fast pace throughout or a sustained surge at the end. He improved his 2-mile (3.2 km) speed in 1967 and 1968, lowering Michel Jazy's world record by 3 seconds, running an 8:19.8 and then an 8:19.6.

World records[edit]

DistanceTime /
Distance		LocationDateNote
5000 m13:34.8Hobart, Australia1965-01-16
5000 m13:33.6Auckland, New Zealand1965-02-01
5000 m13:25.8Los Angeles, United States1965-06-04
5000 m13:16.6Stockholm, Sweden1966-07-05
10000 m28:15.6Melbourne, Australia1963-12-18
10000 m27:39.4Oslo, Norway1965-07-14
20000 m59.22.8Geelong, Australia1965-10-27As part of 1 hour world record.
1 hour20,232 mGeelong, Australia1965-02-27
2 miles8:19.8Vasteras, Sweden1967-07-27
2 miles8:19.6London, England1968-08-24
3 miles13.07.6Melbourne, Australia1964-12-03
3 miles13.00.4Los Angeles, United States1965-06-04As part of 5000 m world record.
3 miles12.52.4London, England1965-10-7
3 miles12.50.4Stockholm, Sweden1966-07-05As part of 5000 m world record.
6 miles27.17.8Melbourne, Australia1963-12-18
6 miles26.47.0Oslo, Norway1965-07-14As part of 10000 m world record
10 miles47.12.8Melbourne, Australia1965-03-04
In 1965, Clarke beat the 10,000m world record in Turku, Finland with a time of 28.14.0 but it was never ratified as it was said that permission to run was requested too late. [6] [7]

Political career[edit]

He was elected Mayor of the Gold Coast, Queensland in 2004, defeating the incumbent Gary Baildon. Clarke and his wife, Helen, first came to the Gold Coast for a holiday in 1957. The couple returned almost every year thereafter, and in 1995, after 14 years abroad mainly in Europe, came back for good.[8]
Clarke resigned as Mayor of the Gold Coast on 27 February 2012, when he announced his nomination to run as an independent candidate for the seat of Broadwater in the 2012 Queensland state election.[9] Clarke failed in this campaign, coming fourth and recording only a 4.6% primary vote.[10]
Former Australian Football League CEO, Andrew Demetriou stated that Clarke as Mayor of the Gold Coast played a major role in the AFL establishing a new team Gold Coast Suns on the Gold Coast.[11]
In 2011, Clarke was part of the lobbying team that secured the 2018 Commonwealth Games for the Gold Coast, Queensland.[12]

Honours[edit]

In 1966 Clarke was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) "In recognition of service to athletics".[13]
In 2000, he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for "Significant contribution as a competitor (Athletics)".[14]
In 2001, he was awarded the Centenary Medal for "For distinguished service to the eco-tourism industry". [14]
In the 2013 Queens Birthday Honours List, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) "For distinguished service to the community through a range of leadership roles with local government and philanthropic organisations, and to the promotion of athletics."[15]

Awards and recognition[edit]

In 2005 Geelong Athletics honoured Clarke with an athletics meet to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Clarke breaking the world record for the 20,000 m and one hour run at Landy Field in October 1965. This meet is held annually as part of the Athletics Australia National Meet Series.
On 15 March 2006, Ron Clarke was one of the final four runners who carried the Queen's Baton around the MCG stadium during the 2006 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.[21]
Emil Zatopek had great admiration for Ron Clarke. In 1968 he invited the Australian to Czechoslovakia, and as a parting gift he gave him his 1952 Olympic 10,000 m gold medal with the following words: “Not out of friendship but because you deserve it".[5]

Death[edit]

Clarke died of kidney failure on 17 June 2015 at Allamanda Hospital in Southport, Queensland.[22] Clarke was survived by his wife Helen and sons Marcus and Nicolas. His daughter Monique died of breast cancer in 2009.[23][2]
Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten paid tribute to Clarke in Parliament on the day of his death by stating that a great Australian had been lost with his passing.[24] Herb Elliott, Australian 1500 m Olympic gold medallist, said "Ron was a great man. His contribution to athletics was enormous. He was also a wonderful contributor to public health through lifestyle programs and gymnasiums and the communities in which he lived. Ron will be greatly missed". [25]John Landy, who famously helped Clarke when he fell during a mile race at the 1956 Australian Championships, said "'Ron Clarke, by his running feats inspired Australian distance runners and in a world sense, demonstrated the potential athletics achievements possible."[25]

Bibliography[edit]

  • The measure of success : a personal perspective. South Melbourne, Vic. : Lothian Books, 2004.
  • Run easy. Melbourne : Information Australia, 2001.
  • Never say never : Couran Cove Resort from dream to reality. Avalon, N.S.W. : Banyan Tree Creative Services, 1999.
  • Fixing the Olympics. Melbourne : Information Australia, 1999.
  • Enjoying life : a champion's guide to the good life. Melbourne : Information Australia, 1999.
  • Total living : for everyone who wants to be fitter, trimmer and smarter. London : Pavilion, 1995.
  • Ron Clarke's running book. Collingwood, Vic. : Outback Press, 1979.
  • Successful athletics : from beginner to expert in forty lessons, with Raelene Boyle. Melbourne : Thomas Nelson, 1976.
  • Ron Clarke talks track edited by Jon Hendershott. Los Altos, Calif. : Tafnews, 1972.
  • Athletics the Australian way. Melbourne : Lansdowne, 1971.
  • The lonely breed, with Norman Harris. London : Pelham, 1967.
  • The unforgiving minute, as told to Alan Trengrove. London : Pelham, 1966.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Ron Clarke". Sports Reference - Olympic Sports. Retrieved 17 June 2015. 
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Johnson, Len (16 June 2015). "The man who changed the world". The Runner's Tribe. Retrieved 17 June 2015. 
  3. Jump up ^ Organizing Committee of the XVI Olympiad, Melbourne, 1956. "THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE FOR THE GAMES OF THE XVI OLYMPIAD MELBOURNE 1956" (PDF-34.4 MB). p. 227. Retrieved 17 June 2015 – via www.la84foundation.org.  ('Snippet' via Google books)
  4. Jump up ^ "Ron Clarke". Athletics Australia Historical Results. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Bunrton, Simon (22 June 2012). "50 stunning Olympic moments No 41: Emil Zatopek the triple-gold winner". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 June 2015. 
  6. Jump up ^ "Vale Ron Clarke - a fitting tribute by Paul Jenes and Brian Roe". Athletics Australia website. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  7. Jump up ^ "Australian IAAF World Record Holders * World Best Performances as of January 2008". Athletics Australia website. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  8. Jump up ^ Gold Coast City Council. "Mayor Cr Ron Clarke MBE". Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2015. 
  9. Jump up ^ Kelly, James (27 February 2012). "Clarke says Gold Coast needs independent MP". ABC News. Retrieved 6 March 2012. 
  10. Jump up ^ "2012 State General Election - Broadwater - Booth Details". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012. 
  11. Jump up ^ Smart, Nick (17 June 2015). "Suns, says former AFL boss Andrew Demetriou". Herald Sun. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  12. Jump up ^ Kimmorley, Sarah (17 June 2015). "Legendary Australian athlete and former Gold Coast Mayor, Ron Clarke has died aged 78". Business Insider Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2015. 
  13. Jump up ^ "CLARKE, Ronald William". itsanhonour.gov.au. 11 June 1966. Retrieved 17 June 2015. 
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "CLARKE, Ronald William". It's an Honour. Retrieved 17 June 2015. 
  15. Jump up ^ "Queen's Birthday Honours List 2013". Herald Sun (News Corp). 10 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  16. Jump up ^ "France honours Ron Clarke". Canberra Times. 7 January 1967. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  17. Jump up ^ "Helms award to Ron Clarke". Canberra Times. 14 January 1966. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  18. Jump up ^ "Past winners". Fathers Day Council of Victoria. Retrieved 17 June 2015. 
  19. Jump up ^ "Ron Clarke MBE". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Retrieved 10 September 2013. 
  20. Jump up ^ "Athletics Australia Hall of Fame". Athletics Australia website. Retrieved 17 June 2015. 
  21. Jump up ^ "Queen's Baton Relay". Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games website. 
  22. Jump up ^ Weston, Paul (17 June 2015). "Former Gold Coast mayor and Olympic medallist Ron Clarke dies, aged 78". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 17 June 2015. 
  23. Jump up ^ Anderson, Jon (17 June 2015). "Australian athletics legend Ron Clarke dies aged 78". Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved 17 June 2015. 
  24. Jump up ^ "Abbott, Shorten pay tribute to a great". 9News.com.au. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015. 
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b "Vale Ron Clarke". Australian Olympic Committee News, 17 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015. 

External links[edit]

Records
Preceded by
Soviet Union Pyotr Bolotnikov		Men's 10,000 m World Record Holder
18 December 1963 – 3 September 1972		Succeeded by
Finland Lasse Virén
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
New Zealand Peter Snell		Track & Field Athlete of the Year
1965		Succeeded by
United States Jim Ryun
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Kenya Kipchoge Keino		Men's 5000 m Best Year Performance
1966–1968		Succeeded by
New Zealand Dick Taylor
Olympic Games
Preceded by
Paavo Nurmi and Hannes Kolehmainen		Final Summer Olympic Torchbearer
with Hans Wikne
Melbourne 1956		Succeeded by
Giancarlo Peris
Political offices
Preceded by
Gary Baildon		Mayor of the Gold Coast
2004–2012		Succeeded by
Tom Tate
Authority control
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ron_Clarke&oldid=667428236"
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