Melbourne, Victoria, Australia — Oceania
Sportsmanship
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, April 14, 2026
1. Sportsmanship Marker
This sculpture immortalises an act of sportsmanship that took place at Olympic Park, Melbourne, during the Australian mile championship of 1956, in which John Landy stopped to help a fallen Ron Clarke. Landy's feat in going on to win the race has been overshadowed by the unselfish gesture that is part of Australian sporting lore.
The following was published as an open letter by sports journalist Harry Gordon in The Sun News-Pictorial on March 12, 1956.
Dear John,
The fellows in the Press box don't have many heroes. Often they help to make them - but usually they know too much about them to believe in them.
Up in the Press seats they don't usually clap. They are busy and they are used to big sport. Mostly, they've mastered the art of observing without becoming excited.
On Saturday at 4:35pm, though, the sports writers forgot the rules. They had a hero... every one of them. And you were it.
Among the 22,000 who crammed to Olympic Park there was not a soul who was not thrilled and inspired by your effort. None of them will forget it.
Yours was the classic sporting gesture. It was a senseless piece of chivalry - but it will be remembered as one of the finest actions in the history of sport.
In a nutshell, you sacrificed your chance of a world record to go to the aid of a fallen rival.
And in pulling up, trotting back to Ron Clarke, muttering Sorry" and deciding to chase the field, you achieved much more than any world record.
Your action cost you six or seven seconds. And you sprinted round that last lap like a 220 runner to overhaul the field and win in 4 minutes 4.2 seconds.
You... the fellow who used to be called a mechanical runner without a finish.
A lot of people are wondering why you pulled up. The truth is of course, that you didn't think about it. It was the instinctive action of a man whose mate is in trouble.
In the record books it will look a very ordinary run for these days. But, for my money, the fantastic gesture and the valiant recovery make it overshadow your magnificent miles in Turku and Vancouver.
It was your greatest triumph. And it is fitting that it took place in your home town.
Unveiled
this page online
Jointly sponsored by the Victorian Government and the Herald Sun.
Proudly supported by Athletics International.
Erected 2002 by The Victorian Government and the Herald Sun.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is March 12, 1956.
Location. 37° 49.438′ S, 144° 58.942′ E. Marker is in Melbourne, Victoria. It is on Olympic Boulevard (Route 20) 0.2 kilometers east of Batman Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Oceania, Australasia, the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific, the Pacific Rim, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sharelle McMahon (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Lou Richards (about 180 meters away); Melbourne Olympic Swimming Pool (about 210 meters away); The Army and Olympic Park
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, April 14, 2026
2. The Statue above the Sportsmanship Marker
Also see . . .
1. John Landy - Hall of Fame.
John Landy AC CVO MBE was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985 as an Athlete Member for his contribution to the sport of athletics and was elevated to Legend of Australian Sport in 2005.(Submitted on April 30, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)
Landy was the first great Australian distance runner and the second man in the world to break four minutes for the mile.
During his school years, Landy enjoyed watching 1500m track events becoming a serious runner during his college years. He was a member of the Australian Olympic team at both the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and 1956 Melbourne Olympics and he held the world records for the 1500m and the mile. Though he never won an Olympic or Commonwealth Games gold medal, he remains a legendary figure in the sport of athletics.
2. Ron Clarke - Hall of fame.
Ron Clarke was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985 as an Athlete Member and was Elevated as a Legend of Australian Sport in 2022 for his contribution to the sport of athletics.(Submitted on April 30, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)
Ron Clarke was one of the world’s greatest distance runners, etching his name into Australian sporting history with his record-breaking achievements, his fierce determination and his grace and humility on and off the track.
He broke 17 official world records in a remarkable career, holding every world record from two miles to the one-hour run across seven years.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 30, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 30, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
