Snell's 1964 1500 Triumph Completes Tokyo Double

by Marc Bloom

The Race

Even though New Zealand's Peter Snell was already an Olympic champion and world record holder when he arrived in Tokyo for the 1964 Games, the element of surprise, his trademark dating back to Snell's youth as a tennis player-turned-runner, was still a viable weapon. Going into the 1960 Rome Olympics 800, Snell, then 21, was ranked around 25th in the world. Snell won in 1:46.3, an Olympic record, defeating the world recordholder, Roger Moens of Belgium. At Tokyo four years later, Snell would attempt what no athlete had achieved before: an Olympic 800 and 1500 double. Snell's recent 800s were unimpressive but he defeated the favorites in Tokyo, setting an OIympic record of 1:45.1.

In the Tokyo 1500 final, as 75,000 people watched in National Stadium, Michel Bernard of France took the early lead as expected and passed the 400 in 58 flat. The American Dyrol Burleson, the world's top-ranked miler three years before, ran in 2nd. Only Bernard and Burleson were rated a chance of giving Snell a fight. (Another U.S. contender, young Tommy O'Hara, who'd burned up indoor tracks that winter, got sick and was eliminated in the semis.) Snell was positioned in mid-pack in the nine-man final. His muscular stride looked awkward. As his coach Arthur Lydiard had crafted strategy, Snell was not yet free to go. His New Zealand compatriot John Davies took the lead as planned through the 800 in a modest 2:00.5. Snell continued sitting back in fourth knowing the race was a cupcake. The pace quickened a touch as Davies led for another lap, reaching 1200 in 2:59.3. Snell stayed cool. No one was nearly as fit. He moved from fourth to third around Burleson, wedged in on the inside.

Snell had defeated Burleson twice the previous summer in televised mile races in California. Then, finally, Snell opened up on the backstretch, moving well in front with Rodin-like legs that had amassed a thousand miles of training in ten weeks leading to the Games. The track was his, and, covering the last lap in 52.6, Snell ran 3:38.1 to triumph by 11 meters with an expression of bliss crossing the finish. Josef Odlozil of Czechoslovakia was a surprise silver medalist in 2nd while Davies took the bronze. A month later in Auckland, while continuing to work full-time as a sales rep for a tobacco company, Snell collected his fifth world record, lowering his mile mark to 3:54.1.

Eyewitness: Snell on Snell

Even though I was defending champion in the 800, I questioned whether I was being too greedy doing two events. Was I going to compromise my better event, the 1500, by also running 800 and taking on six races in eight days? It had been a long time since I'd run a decent 800. But I tend to be a gambler, a risk-taker. And it turned out to be a heck of a lot of fun. In the 800, I got boxed in by Tommy Farrell, who ran alongside me the whole damn way. I had to make two surges-the first with 300 to go to get out of the box, the second with 200 to go to prevent those with better sprint speed than me from having an advantage. Winning the 800 was great relief but I could not allow myself to get too excited.

The next day I had the first round of the 1500, which would be my fourth race in four days. However, with a day's rest between the first round and semi, I felt fresh for the final. My coach, Arthur Lydiard, told me I was the man to beat so just don't do anything stupid. He ordered my New Zealand teammate, John Davies, to take the lead midway and he did. I sat back as Lydiard had instructed. As in the 800, I found myself in a tight box with a lap to go. But this time the man on my shoulder, John Whetton of Britain, was agreeable. I put my arm out to signal John I'd be coming out, and he moved aside. On the backstretch I ran relaxed, waiting for someone to make a move. No one did. I thought, this is good for me. Why wait anymore? I took off with 200 to go. That's something I always enjoyed doing. No one came back at me. After six races in eight days, instead of remaining in the athletes' village, I celebrated with my wife with a night in the Japanese countryside.

Snell, 65, is an exercise physiologist in Dallas and age-group orienteering champion.

Eyewitness: Arthur Lydiard, Snell's Coach

I was not concerned about Snell having to run six races in eight days. I knew he would get stronger as he went. He trained as a miler, not an 800 runner, and had endurance. For the final, I told Davies to lead and Snell to come from behind. They always ran as planned. Snell was not that fast compared to others. He could run 22 and change for the 200, but some of his competitors could run in the 21s. Snell could sprint with 200 to go because he wasn't tired. My training approach was for athletes to develop sufficient endurance to maintain speed throughout the race.

Coaching legend Lydiard died early in 2005 at the age of 87.

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