Jim Bailey (athlete) facts for kids
Bailey at University of Oregon in 1956
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Australian |
| Born | 21 July 1929 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 31 March 2020 (aged 90) Bellingham, Washington, U.S. |
| Height | 178 cm |
| Weight | 69 kg |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Middle-distance running |
| Event(s) | 800 m, 1500 m, mile |
| Club | Oregon Ducks, Eugene |
| Coached by | Bill Bowerman |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | 800 m – 1:48.8 (1956) 1500 m – 3:43.3 (1956) Mile – 3:58.6 (1956) |
James John Bailey (born 21 July 1929 – died 31 March 2020) was a famous Australian runner. He was known for running races like the 800 meters and the mile.
Jim Bailey competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics in his home country, Australia. He reached the semifinals in the 800 meters event. While studying at the University of Oregon, he became the national champion in the mile race in 1955. His coach there was the legendary Bill Bowerman. Jim Bailey was the very first runner coached by Bowerman to run a mile in under four minutes. This was a huge achievement in running!
Jim Bailey's Early Life
Jim Bailey was born in Sydney, Australia. He grew up in a town called Parkes, New South Wales. His father worked for the local council. After living in the country for ten years, his family moved to Hurstville, New South Wales. This move helped Jim join the St George Athletics Club and focus on his running.
The Famous Mile Race of 1956
On 6 May 1956, Jim Bailey took part in a very exciting mile race. It happened at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the United States. This race was organized to build excitement for the 1956 Olympics. Another Australian runner, John Landy, was trying to be the first person to run a mile in under four minutes on American soil.
Jim Bailey, as the NCAA champion, joined other top runners. These included Bill Dellinger, Jerome Walters, Lon Spurrier, and Ron Delany. Delany, who later won an Olympic gold medal, started the race very fast. He pulled ahead of everyone else.
John Landy soon caught up with Delany. As the race continued, Landy broke away from the main group. He gained a lead of more than ten yards. Other runners started to fall behind. But Jim Bailey kept up with Delany.
With one lap left, Landy still had a fifteen-yard lead. He sped up for his final lap, sometimes looking back to check his lead. Jim Bailey also sped up for his last lap. He was sprinting much faster than Landy on the final backstretch.
Jim Bailey caught Landy with about 200 yards left in the race! Landy didn't give up and tried to hold him off. But Bailey kept his advantage around the final turn. He crossed the finish line first, winning by two steps.
John Landy did succeed in running the mile in under four minutes. But Jim Bailey was the first to do it on American soil. He finished in 3 minutes, 58.6 seconds. This was an amazing six seconds faster than his previous best time!
Life After Running
In 1956, Jim Bailey was ranked as the third-best miler in the world. After he stopped competing in running, he played professional rugby in Australia.
Later, he moved back to the United States. He lived in the Pacific Northwest region for the rest of his life. He worked as a promoter for sportswear. Then, he became a real estate agent in Bellingham, Washington.
Jim Bailey passed away on 31 March 2020 in Bellingham, Washington.
