AustralianRonald William "Ron" Clarke (born February 21, 1937) was one of the best known middle and long distance runners in the 1960s. He is best remembered for setting 17 world records, but also for never winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games. He did win a bronze medal in the 10,000 m at the 1964 Summer Olympics, however.
RonClarke was a Melbourne schoolboy two years older than I. We did not compete against each other, except on an occasional 3000 metres, a cross country or in club competition.
Ron had emerged as a top athlete at the Melbourne Olympic Games when as a world junior record holder he was given the honour of lighting the Olympic flame before 100,000 at the MCG.
At the Mexico Olympics in 1968, Ron was courageous in finishing fifth at high altitude in a race that was later considered dangerous in the heat and humidity of the rarefied atmosphere.
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