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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.

Rod Dixon

Rod Dixon in 1976
Medal record
Men's Athletics
Representing  New Zealand
Olympic Games
	1972 Munich	1500 metres

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] 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.[2]

After missing the 1980 Summer Olympics due to the boycott[3] 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.[4][5] 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.[6] 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.[6][7]

The boycott[3] of the 1980 Summer Olympics lead Dixon become 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 lead to Dixon relocating to the US to compete in 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.

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	7:43.46	Cologne	1976
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	3:33.9
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

External links

• Biography at New Zealand Olympic Committee website
• Page with Photo at Sporting Heroes

Sporting positions
Preceded by Brendan Foster	Men's 3.000 m best year performance 1975–1976	Succeeded by Karl Fleschen
Awards
Preceded by Les Mills	Lonsdale Cup of the New Zealand Olympic Committee 1972	Succeeded by Jack Foster

На других языках

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- [en] Rod Dixon

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[it] Rod Dixon

Rodney Phillip Dixon, detto Rod (Nelson, 13 luglio 1950), è un ex mezzofondista e maratoneta neozelandese.

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[ru] Диксон, Род

Ро́дни Фи́ллип Ди́ксон (англ. Rodney Phillip Dixon; род. 13 июля 1950, Нельсон) — новозеландский легкоатлет, специалист по бегу на средние и длинные дистанции, кросс-кантри и марафону. Выступал на крупных международных соревнованиях в период 1972—1986 годов, бронзовый призёр летних Олимпийских игр в Мюнхене, победитель Нью-Йоркского марафона, обладатель трёх бронзовых медалей кроссовых чемпионатов мира, многократный победитель и призёр первенств национального значения в различных беговых дисциплинах.

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