Rod Dixon

Rod Dixon

Rod Dixon in 1976
Medal record
Men's Athletics
Representing  New Zealand
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1972 Munich 1500 metres

Rodney Phillip Dixon (born 13 July 1950) is a former New Zealand middle- to long-distance runner. He won the bronze medal in the 1500 metres at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, and in 1983 won the New York City Marathon.

Biography

Dixon was born on 13 July 1950 in Nelson, New Zealand.

He first represented New Zealand at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, finishing third in the 1500 metres.[1] He won his first British AAA Championships title in the 1500m event at the 1973 AAA Championships (the second was in 1976).[2][3][4][5] At the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch he finished fourth in the 1500 metres. His time of 3:33.89 (officially 3:33.9) was the fifth fastest ever at the time and remained Dixon's lifetime best for the distance. He then moved up to the 5000 metres and was ranked first in the world for the event in 1975 by Track & Field News magazine.

In the 5000 metres at the 1976 Montreal Olympics Dixon finished fourth behind four-time Olympic Champion Lasse Virén, teammate Dick Quax and Klaus-Peter Hildenbrand whose last second dive/fall denied Dixon a second Olympic bronze medal.[6]

After missing the 1980 Summer Olympics due to the boycott[7] Dixon took third place at the 1982 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Dixon also turned to road-running and was one of the more successful athletes on the US road racing circuit in the early '80s, including wins at the Falmouth Road Race (1980), Bay to Breakers (1982 & 1983), the Lynchburg, Virginia 10 miler (1981 & 1983), and the Philadelphia Half-Marathon (1980, 1981). His gradual move to longer distances culminated in his 1983 marathon victory in New York City.[8][9] He finished 10th in the marathon at the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Unable to compete due to an injury, Dixon guided a blind runner in the 1985 Bay to Breakers.[10] At the 1985 New York Marathon, Dixon served as the first host for the participatory "Helmet Cam" as he followed the lead pack for a mile during the race.[10][11]

The boycott[7] of the 1980 Summer Olympics led to Dixon becoming embroiled in a savage row with the NZ Amateur Athletic Association. He got wind of the boycott some time before it was announced and confronted NZAAA over it. Teams which were to compete in the coming Olympics were in their final preparations and some athletes in teams, like the rowers and hockey players, were leaving their jobs so they could compete -without any idea that there would be a boycott. Dixon felt that the New Zealand government had no business meddling in the Olympic Games and the athletes should have been consulted and been part of the decision-making process. This rift led to Dixon relocating to the US to compete on the road racing circuit.

After winning the New York Marathon, Pan Am put his name on the side of one of its 747s and gave him a "self-write ticket" - for first-class. He used to say to his "friend": Want to go to Zurich tonight? And off they'd go, for dinner.[12]

Personal bests

Distance Time Place Date
800 m 1:47.6 Rome 1973
1500 m 3:33.89 Christchurch 1974
1 mile 3:53.62 Stockholm 1975
3000m 7:41.0 Milan 1974
3000 m Steeplechase 8:29.0 Oslo 1973
2 miles 8:14.4 Stockholm 1974
5000 m 13:17.27 Stockholm 1976
10000 m 28:11.0 Atlanta 1981
Half marathon 1:02:12 NR Philadelphia 1981
Marathon 2:08:59 New York 1983

Achievements

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  New Zealand
1972 Olympic Games Munich, West Germany 3rd, Bronze Medal 1500 metres 3:37.5
1982 1982 IAAF World Cross Country Championships Rome, Italy 3rd, Bronze Medal 11.978 km 34:01
1984 Olympic Games Los Angeles, United States 10th Marathon 2:12:57

References

  1. ^ Wallechinsky, David (2012). The Book of Olympic Lists. p. 22. ISBN 978-1845137731.
  2. ^ "AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  3. ^ "AAA Championships (men)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Results". The People. 15 July 1973. Retrieved 29 May 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Dave's run for the money". Sunday Mirror. 15 July 1973. Retrieved 29 May 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ See Matti Hannus, "The Montreal Olympic Book" / Montrealin Olympiakirja, published in Finland in 1976; Mauno Saari, "Lasse Viren: The Secrets of Running" / Lasse Viren: Juoksemisen salaisuudet, published in Finland in 1979.
  7. ^ a b "1980 Moscow Olympics boycott". nzhistory.net.nz. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  8. ^ Interview with Rod Dixon showing the finish on YouTube.
  9. ^ sportsillustrated.cnn.com Sports Illustrated
  10. ^ a b Wason, Tim (22 May 1985). "Bay-to-Breakers race a time for celebrating fun aspect of sports". The Christian Science Monitor. Boston. p. 18. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  11. ^ Wilner, Barry (27 October 1985). "Rod Dixon to Wear Camera on His Head During Today's New York City Marathon". Los Angeles Times.
  12. ^ "Michele Hewitson interview: Rod Dixon". The New Zealand Herald. 6 May 2024.
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