Ron Clarke, legendary Olympian and champion runner, passed away at his Gold Coast home this morning.
He was aged 78.
As well as being a highly decorated athlete, Clarke was also instrumental in his time as Mayor of the Gold Coast Council, in convincing the AFL to re-establish a presence in the region with the Gold Coast Suns after the departure of the Brisbane Bears from Carrara to the ‘Gabba in the 1990s.
The ABC published this obituary on Mr Clarke Wednesday morning.
And Mr Clarke’s Sport Australia Hall of Fame biography can be accessed via THIS LINK
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of esteemed Member Ron Clarke… http://t.co/QuJxp99f4I #RIP #SAHOF pic.twitter.com/YcwRYXgsYm
— Sport Aus HallofFame (@SportAusHoF) June 16, 2015
We welcome Almanackers to share their memories of Ron Clarke in our comments section below.
Expected a lot of himself, and of his kids. Played junior footy at East Doncaster at the same time as his son Marcus. Seem to remember Marcus broking a bone in a game – Ron refused to let him come off. No truth in the rumour that John Landy intervened.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozZyfM5l9ws
What an icon of Australian sport whose passing allows us to reflect upon an era when sportsmanship was hailed as much as winning was celebrated.