A record-breaking athletic career
Peter competed at Rome 1960, taking home his first gold medal from the Games. He headed to Tokyo in 1964 and won a further two golds in the 800m and 1500m races. An incredible feat, the New Zealander added his name to the history books as the first man since 1920 to win both the 800m and 1500m at an Olympic Games.
Peter was in the 4 x 1-mile relay race in 1961, which is when he’d secure his first world record with the New Zealand team in Dublin.
He later held individual world records in the 800m from 1962-68, the 1000m for a year from 1964, the mile race from 1962-65, and the 880-yard race from 1962-66.
Joining Loughborough
It wasn’t until after he had secured world records and Olympic golds that Peter joined Loughborough. He retired from competition in 1965 and decided to embark on academic pursuits.
According to fellow alumnus Hugh Lawrence – who wrote about his memories of Peter online – Peter still, albeit reluctantly, joined students for runs around campus. He also ran at the athletics track, announced by alumnus Robbie Brightwell, at the 1972 AAA meet in what Hugh describes as a “season highlight”.
Whilst at Loughborough, on what is recorded as a coaching placement, Peter discovered his interest in physiology. That began his academic journey and after just one year at Loughborough he moved to the USA to pursue a degree.
Academia
His time at Loughborough was key to the beginning of that journey. It helped prove to himself and former teachers that he could in fact be academic. Speaking to Athletics Weekly in 2017, Peter said “After Loughborough, I realised my school results were wrong and I did have an academic side. That’s great to find out, isn’t it?”
He studied at UC Davis and then Washington State University where he gained a PhD.
From there he spent time at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre.
Peter will continue to be known as one of New Zealand’s greatest athletes. His country named him New Zealand Sportsman of the Year in 1960 and 1964, and decades later in 2000, he was named as New Zealand’s Sports Champion of the 20th Century. He became a Sir in 2009.
The Museum of New Zealand holds more than 20 pieces relating to Sir Peter Snell in its collections.
Peter’s journey shows passion and a resilience for pivoting after an athletic career. While Peter only spent a short amount of time at Loughborough, it clearly made a mark on his peers, such as Hugh Lawrence.
Peter passed away in December 2019.
Sources: Olympics.com | Museum of New Zealand | Encyclopaedia Britannica | Athletics Weekly | Hugh Lawrence Peter Snell in UK – a personal memory
As we celebrate Loughborough athletes and coaches, our alumni spotlights are honing in on some of our former students and staff who have also competed on the global stage. Find out more on the Loughborough athletes on the global stage website or by checking out #Lboro2Paris on social media.