New Zealand athletics legend Sir Murray Halberg has died, aged 89.
A disciple of reknowned Kiwi coach Arthur Lydiard, Halberg and Peter Snell dominated international middle distance through the 1960s, famously achieving gold medals at the 1960 Rome Olympics within an hour of each other.
He also won gold medals over 3 miles at the 1958 (Cardiff) and 1962 (Perth) Commonwealth Games, setting world records for 2 miles and 3 miles, and was the first Kiwi to break four minutes for the mile in 1958.
Off the track, he transformed the lives of children with a disability through sport, as founder of the Halberg Foundation, sponsoring the annual Halberg Awards for New Zealand's top sporting performers.
Halberg was born in 1933 at Eketahuna, but grew up in Auckland, where he attended Avondale College. After serious injuring an arm in a rugby accident, leaving him with a withered limb, he turned to running and fell under Lydiard's tutelege, finishing fifth over the mile at the 1954 Vancouver Empire Games and 11th over 1500m at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
Appropriately, he won the 1958 NZ Sportsman of the Year, after breaking the mile barrier and winning Commonwealth Games gold, but his finsest hour - literally - came, when Snell won the 800m and Halberg the 5000m at Rome.
Defending his Commonwealth crown, he retired from running after finishing seventh over 10,000m at 1966 Tokyo Olympics and dedicated himself to his foundation for disabled children.
"Although we have helped thousands of disabled people over the years, we still have a long way to go before disabled people have the same opportunities to participate in sport and recreation - and in society in general," he said.
"For more than 50 years, I have witnessed first-hand how sport can be a stepping stone to enhance the lives of disabled people. I've seen how sport can provide health benefits, new skills, social networks, confidence and ambition that can be transferred into many other parts of their lives."
Halberg was knighted in 1988 for his services to sport and disabled children and admitted to the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. He is survived by wife Lady Phyllis, children, Greta, Carl and Stefan, and two grandchildren.
"Sir Murray was a fierce competitor who gave his all on the track and a true gentleman, who served others throughout his life," said Athletics NZ chief executive Peter Pfitzinger. "He was a true champion in every respect and a great New Zealander."
NZOC president Liz Dawson says Halberg's achievements on and off the field of play will go down in history.
"No-one ever exemplified the Olympic spirit of triumphing over adversity better than Sir Murray Halberg," Dawson said.
"Sir Murray is one of our greatest ever Olympians and has left an enduring legacy. He won the 5000m gold medal at the Rome 1960 Olympic Games, as part of the the Golden Hour - one of the most important events in New Zealand sporting history.
"He was also a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, but Sir Murray was more than just an inspiration on the field of play. Following his sporting career, he used his platform to help those less fortunate, transforming the lives of children with a disability as the founder and driving force behind the Halberg Foundation.
"Sir Murray used his triumph over adversity to inspire others to do the same. I extend my sincere condolences to his friends and family, and know the wider New Zealand Olympic movement and New Zealand society will mourn his loss."
