Herb Elliott

Australian middle distance runner · Australia · Athletes · Born 1938 · age 88

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Herbert James Elliott is a former Australian athlete and arguably the world's greatest middle-distance runner of his era.

A life in dates

2002Companion of the Order of AustraliaAward2001Centenary MedalAward2000Athletics Australia Hall of FameAwardAustralian Sports MedalAward1994Silver Olympic OrderAward1964Member of the Order of the British EmpireAward1958Associated Press Athlete of the YearAward1938Born25 February 1938

Also in Deutsch

Photos 2

Elliott with family in Europe c. 1960

Awards

Companion of the Order of Australia2002

Centenary Medal2001

Australian Sports Medal2000

Athletics Australia Hall of Fame2000

Silver Olympic Order1994

Member of the Order of the British Empire1964

Associated Press Athlete of the Year1958

Australian National Living Treasure

About this person

Herbert James Elliott is a former Australian athlete and arguably the world's greatest middle-distance runner of his era. In August 1958 he set the world record in the mile run, clocking 3:54.5, 2.7 seconds under the record held by Derek Ibbotson; later in the month he set the 1500 metres world record, running 3:36.0, 2.1 seconds under the record held by Stanislav Jungwirth. In the 1500 metres at the 1960 Rome Olympics, he won the gold medal and bettered his own world record with a time of 3:35.6.

Country

Australia

Athletes from Australia 6

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