The character in the Academy Award-winning film Chariots of fire (1981) was based on Arthur Porritt, who won a bronze medal for New Zealand in the 100 m at the 1924 Paris Olympics.
The cult of masculinity had one positive spin-off: Arthur Lydiard. A runner of iron will but limited natural ability, he discovered that as he ran further he got fitter.
Following in the footsteps of Jack Lovelock and Peter Snell, Walker won gold in the Olympic 1500 m. Black African nations boycotted the Games in protest at the All Blacks' tour of South Africa
Snell had successfully defended his 800-m title earlier at the Tokyo Olympics before completing the coveted middle-distance double with gold in the 1500 m. Fellow Kiwi John Davies won bronze.
Jack Lovelock's run at Princeton University beat the existing record for the mile, set by Jules Ladoumegue, by almost two seconds. It was dubbed the 'greatest mile of all time' by Time Magazine
It was arguably New Zealand's greatest day at the Olympics. Peter Snell won gold in the 800 m and Murray Halberg followed up 30 minutes later to win the 5000 m, completing a remarkable track double in Rome's Olympic Stadium.
Widely considered one of the greatest middle distance runners of all time, Snell broke Herb Elliott's world record on grass at Cook's Gardens, Whanganui, covering the distance in 3 minutes 54.4 seconds.
