At the 1960 summer olympics in rome he won a silver medal in the 800 m. Paul holmes reunites snell with figures in his life, from the rome 800m silver and bronze medallists, to opunake locals and influential coach. Snells wife miki told stuff her husband was having a. Running great snell feels snubbed by new zealand reuters. Snell was a virtual unknown on the international track scene when he surged in the stretch of the 800meter race at the 1960 rome olympics to overtake roger moens of belgium, who held the world record at the time. George kerr 22 of jamaica, a talented newcomer, was also fancied. Roger moens 30, a very experienced runner with a great competitive record, was the cofavorite.
The aim was to get to rome for the 1960 games, a feat he achieved seven months before the competition. Peter snell sprints to win the 800m final in front of roger moens from belgium on 2. Access official olympic photos, video clips, records and results for the top athletics medalists in the event 800m men. New zealand athletics legend and greatest olympian sir. Racing past articles major games 1960 olympic games. New zealands greatest olympian, sir peter snell, was planning on a roast dinner and a game of table tennis when he died in dallas, aged 80. This is your life peter snell television nz on screen. Snell was a virtual unknown on the international track scene when he surged in the stretch of the 800metre race at the 1960 rome olympics to overtake roger moens of. Snell surprised himself and the rest of the world when he pipped belgiums roger moens to win gold in the 800m in rome in his first olympic appearance. Dipping to win gold against 1960 rome favourite roger moens after missing the opening ceremony four years earlier to focus on his heats, the reigning gold medallist was his.
During the 1960 rome summer olympicstrack and field mens 800m featured george kerr of the west indies, belguims roger moens and new zealands peter snell in a classic head to head to head competition. Roger moens 30, a very experienced runner with a great competitive record, was the cofavorite with paul schmidt, who had been fastest over 800 in 1959 1. World record holder roger moens headlined an impressive field in the mens 800m final at the olympic games. The olympics that changed the world maraniss, david on. This is your life peter snell in september 2000 new zealands greatest athlete was surprised with the big red book. In 1955 he broke rudolf harbigs longstanding world record over 800 meters. Snell was a virtual unknown on the international track scene when he surged in the stretch of the 800meter race at the 1960 rome olympics to overtake roger moens, of. Ten greatest moments in olympic distance running runner.
Among his bestselling books are biographies of bill clinton, barack obama, roberto clemente, and vince lombardi, and a trilogy about the 1960srome. Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display skip to content. Snell emerged dramatically, a total unknown at the rome olympics in 1960. Weve compiled our list of the 10 greatest moments in olympic distance running history. Peter snell winning gold at the 1960 olympics in rome. Former olympic champion peter snell has hit out at his native new zealand for not taking better advantage of his expertise after he ended his stellar career. A 21yearold who had never before been out of new zealand and was. He attracted attention by defeating 800m world record holder roger moens of belgium in the semifinals. Peter snell, a middledistance runner from new zealand who set world records in five events and became a threetime olympic gold medalist in the 1960s, died on thursday at.
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