John Davies (runner) facts for kids
Davies at the 1964 Olympics
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 25 May 1938 London, England |
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| Died | 21 July 2003 (aged 65) Auckland, New Zealand |
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| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 68 kg (150 lb) | ||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||
| Country | New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 1500 m | ||||||||||||||||
| Club | Waikato | ||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 1500 m – 3:39.6 (1964) | ||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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John Llewellyn Davies (born 25 May 1938, died 21 July 2003) was a famous athlete from New Zealand. He won a bronze medal at the Olympic Games and later became the president of the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC).
Contents
About John Davies
John Davies was born in London, England. His parents were from Wales. In 1953, when he was about 15 years old, his family moved to New Zealand. They made their home in a town called Tokoroa.
His Running Career
John became a very talented runner. He won a bronze medal in the 1500 metres race at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. This was a huge achievement for him and for New Zealand.
Before that, he also won a silver medal. This was in the one-mile race at the 1962 Commonwealth Games. These games were held in Perth, Australia.
After Running: Coaching and Leadership
John Davies had to stop running because of injuries. But he didn't leave the world of sports. Instead, he became a coach. He helped many other athletes become champions.
Famous Athletes He Coached
Some of the great runners John coached include:
- Dick Quax, who won a silver medal in the 5000 metres at the 1976 Olympics.
- Anne Audain, who won a gold medal at the 1982 Commonwealth Games. She also broke a world record in the 5000 metres that same year.
- Lorraine Moller, who won a bronze medal in the Olympic Marathon in 1992.
- Toni Hodgkinson, who reached the 800 metres final at the 1996 Olympics.
John also worked as a sports administrator. He even became a television commentator. This meant he talked about sports on TV.
Awards and Recognition
In 1990, John Davies was given a special award. He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This was for all his great work in athletics.
In 2000, John became the president of the New Zealand Olympic Committee. This is a very important job. He helped guide New Zealand's Olympic efforts.
Just weeks before he passed away in 2003, he received another award. It was the Leonard Cuff medal. The International Olympic Academy gave him this award. It was for helping to spread the spirit of the Olympic Games. John Davies died from melanoma, a type of skin cancer.
