Photo: New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General—CC BY 4.0

John Walker

Birth dateJan 12, 1952

BirthplacePapakura District, New Zealand

Height1.83 m

Weight74 kg

Sir John George Walker, (born 12 January 1952) is a former middle-distance runner from New Zealand who won the gold medal in the men's 1500 m event at the 1976 Olympics. He was also the first person to run the mile in under 3:50. After his running career was over he was active in local government, as an Auckland Councillor and representing the Manurewa-Papakura ward.

Key facts

Mile Short Track

3:52.8h

2000 Metres

4:51.52

1990 season best

3:37.28

Jan 23, 1990 · North Shore City (NZL)

1990 season best

Medals

Olympic Games: 1 gold

Record

National record · 2000 Metres 4:51.52

National record

Age

74 years old

As of Sep 12, 2026: Mile Short Track 3:52.8h, 2000 Metres 4:51.52, 1990 season best 3:37.28 (Jan 23, 1990, North Shore City (NZL)) · Olympic Games: 1 gold · National record (2000 Metres) · 74 years old

Personal bests

1:44.92

3:32.4HT

3:49.08

7:37.49

13:19.28

3:37.4HT

4:51.52

5:03.8HT

8:05.45

2:16.57

2:20.86

3:52.8HT

3:51.58

14:40.4HT

8:20.57

🏅

Medals

	🥇	🥈	🥉	Total
Olympic Games	1	-	-	1

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
1990	1500m	3:37.28	-	Jan 23, 1990	↑	North Shore City (NZL)
1990	Mile	3:55.19	-	Aug 12, 1990	↑	Portsmouth (GBR)
1989	1500m	3:35.96	-	Jul 19, 1989	↑	Stadio Adriatico, Pescara (ITA)
1989	Mile	3:54.28	-	Jul 1, 1989	↑	Oslo (NOR)
1989	3000m	7:45.64	-	Jul 14, 1989	↓	Crystal Palace, London (GBR)
1988	1500m	3:36.3	-	Jul 2, 1988	↑	Verona (ITA)
1988	Mile	3:52.48	-	Jul 2, 1988	↑	Oslo (NOR)
1988	mile-short-track	3:59.99	-	Jan 22, 1988	↓	Los Angeles, CA (USA) (i)
1988	3000m-short-track	8:05.45	-	Jan 15, 1988	-	Hamilton (CAN) (i)
1988	3000m	8:05.45	-	Jan 15, 1988	↓	Hamilton (CAN) (i)
1988	5000m	13:37.9h	-	Mar 19, 1988	↓	Auckland (NZL)
1987	1500m	3:34.79	-	Jul 22, 1987	↑	Roma (ITA)
1987	Mile	3:55.04	-	Jul 15, 1987	↑	Barcelona (ESP)
1987	mile-short-track	3:58.57	-	Feb 15, 1987	↓	Fairfax, VA (USA) (i)
1987	2000m	5:03.11	-	Sep 15, 1987	↓	Lausanne (SUI)
1987	2000Metres	5:07.59	-	Feb 20, 1987	↓	Inglewood, CA (USA) (i)
1987	3000m	7:52.48	-	Jul 10, 1987	↓	London (GBR)
1987	2Miles	8:23.32	-	Aug 14, 1987	↓	London (GBR)
1987	5000m	13:30.51	-	Jul 7, 1987	↓	Cork (IRL)
1986	1000m-short-track	2:20.86	-	Feb 8, 1986	-	East Rutherford, NJ (USA) (i)
1986	1000m	2:20.86	-	Feb 8, 1986	↓	East Rutherford, NJ (USA) (i)
1986	1500m	3:35.74	-	Aug 6, 1986	↑	La Coruña (ESP)
1986	Mile	3:50.93	-	Sep 10, 1986	↑	Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA)
1986	2000m	4:58.88	-	Sep 5, 1986	↓	Bruxelles (BEL)
1986	3000m	7:51.63	-	Sep 2, 1986	↓	Lausanne (SUI)
1986	5000m	13:19.28	-	Jul 8, 1986	↓	Cork (IRL)
1985	1500m	3:34.97	-	Aug 23, 1985	↑	Olympiastadion, Berlin (GER)
1985	Mile	3:53.20	-	Jul 9, 1985	↑	Cork (IRL)
1985	mile-short-track	3:55.14	-	Jan 25, 1985	↓	New York, NY (USA) (i)
1985	5000m	13:47.87	-	Jul 14, 1985	↓	London (GBR)
1984	800m	1:46.83	-	Jan 26, 1984	↓	Hamilton (NZL)
1984	1000m	2:19.37	-	Jul 30, 1984	↓	San Diego, CA (USA)
1984	1500m	3:35.93	-	Jan 22, 1984	↑	Sydney (AUS)
1984	Mile	3:49.73	-	Aug 29, 1984	↑	Koblenz (GER)
1984	MileRoad	3:56.77	-	Jul 14, 1984	↓	Berkeley, CA (USA)
1984	5000m	13:24.46	-	Aug 11, 1984	↓	Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA (USA)
1983	1000m	2:20.86	-	Jan 19, 1983	↓	Wellington (NZL)
1983	1500m	3:33.84	-	Aug 31, 1983	↑	Koblenz (GER)
1983	Mile	3:49.73	-	Aug 17, 1983	↑	Berlin (GER)
1983	MileRoad	3:51.58	-	Sep 3, 1983	↓	New York, NY (USA)
1982	800m	1:45.49	-	Jul 4, 1982	↓	Byrkjelo (NOR)
1982	1500m	3:33.7	-	Jul 7, 1982	↑	Zürich (SUI)
1982	Mile	3:49.08	-	Jul 7, 1982	↑	Oslo (NOR)
1982	mile-short-track	3:52.8h	-	Feb 19, 1982	↓	San Diego, CA (USA) (i)
1982	MileRoad	3:53.8h	-	Dec 18, 1982	↓	Whanganui (NZL)
1982	2000m	4:58.71	-	Aug 14, 1982	↓	Nice (FRA)
1982	3000m	7:37.49	-	Jul 17, 1982	↓	London (GBR)
1981	800m	1:46.64	-	Jul 19, 1981	↓	Nijmegen (NED)
1981	1500m	3:34.5	-	Jul 11, 1981	↑	Budapest (HUN)
1981	Mile	3:50.12	-	Aug 19, 1981	↑	Zürich (SUI)
1981	mile-short-track	3:52.8h	-	Feb 20, 1981	↓	San Diego, CA (USA) (i)
1981	2000m	5:03.8h	-	Feb 7, 1981	↓	Louisville, KY (USA) (i)
1981	2000Metres	5:03.8h	-	Feb 7, 1981	↓	Louisville, KY (USA) (i)
1981	3000m	7:46.85	-	Aug 21, 1981	↓	Berlin (GER)
1981	5000m	13:20.89	-	Aug 8, 1981	↓	London (GBR)
1980	800m	1:47.65	-	Feb 6, 1980	↓	Melbourne (AUS)
1980	1000m	2:16.57	-	Jul 1, 1980	↓	Oslo (NOR)
1980	1500m	3:33.31	-	Jul 15, 1980	↑	Oslo (NOR)
1980	Mile	3:52.7h	-	Aug 22, 1980	↑	Bruxelles (BEL)
1980	3000m	7:47.64	-	Aug 15, 1980	↓	Lausanne (SUI)
1979	800m	1:47.53	-	Jul 14, 1979	↓	London (GBR)
1979	1000m	2:19.38	-	Jul 8, 1979	↓	Gateshead (GBR)
1979	1500m	3:37.0	-	Jul 17, 1979	↑	Long Beach, CA (USA) (i)
1979	1500m-short-track	3:37.4h	-	Jan 6, 1979	↑	Long Beach, CA (USA) (i)
1979	Mile	3:52.85	-	Jul 17, 1979	↑	Oslo (NOR)
1979	3000m	7:41.73	-	Jul 5, 1979	↓	Oslo (NOR)
1978	800m	1:47.2h	-	Jan 12, 1978	↓	Melbourne (AUS)
1978	1500m	3:40.3h	-	Dec 2, 1978	↑	Auckland (NZL)
1978	Mile	3:56.4h	-	Jan 28, 1978	↑	Auckland (NZL)
1977	800m	1:46.22	-	Jun 22, 1977	↓	Köln (GER)
1977	1000m	2:17.7h	-	Aug 25, 1977	↓	Edinburgh (GBR)
1977	1500m	3:32.72	-	Aug 16, 1977	↑	Bruxelles (BEL)
1977	1500m-short-track	3:40.2h	-	Feb 12, 1977	↑	New York, NY (USA) (i)
1977	Mile	3:52.0h	-	Jul 11, 1977	↑	Dublin (IRL)
1977	3000m	7:41.95	-	Sep 9, 1977	↓	London (GBR)
1976	800m	1:45.76	-	Jul 10, 1976	↓	Zürich (SUI)
1976	1500m	3:34.19	-	Jul 5, 1976	↑	Stockholm (SWE)
1976	Mile	3:53.07	-	Aug 9, 1976	↑	Stockholm (SWE)
1976	2000m	4:51.52	-	Jun 30, 1976	↓	Oslo (NOR)
1976	3000m	7:52.4h	-	Sep 18, 1976	↓	Paris (FRA)
1975	800m	1:45.9h	-	Jan 24, 1975	↓	Christchurch (NZL)
1975	1000m	2:17.2h	-	Jul 2, 1975	↓	Milano (ITA)
1975	1500m	3:32.4h	-	Jul 30, 1975	↑	Oslo (NOR)
1975	Mile	3:49.4h	-	Aug 12, 1975	↑	Göteborg (SWE)
1975	2000m	4:56.8h	-	Aug 30, 1975	↓	Göteborg (SWE)
1975	2Miles	8:20.57	-	Jul 17, 1975	↓	Stockholm (SWE)
1975	4x1500Metr	14:50.2h	-	May 17, 1975	↓	Auckland (NZL)
1975	CrossCount	35:45	-	Mar 16, 1975	-	3rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1974	800m	1:44.92	-	Jan 29, 1974	↓	Christchurch Commonwealth Games
1974	1000m	2:18.0h	-	Aug 21, 1974	↓	Berlin (GER)
1974	1500m	3:32.52	-	Feb 2, 1974	↑	Christchurch (NZL)
1974	Mile	3:54.9h	-	Aug 1, 1974	↑	Helsinki (FIN)
1974	3000m	7:40.6h	-	Jul 4, 1974	↓	Oslo (NOR)
1973	800m	1:45.3h	-	Dec 29, 1973	↓	Christchurch (NZL)
1973	1500m	3:38.0h	-	Jul 30, 1973	↑	Helsinki (FIN)
1973	Mile	3:58.8	-	Jul 7, 1973	↑	-
1973	4x1500Metr	14:40.4h	-	Aug 22, 1973	↓	Oslo (NOR)

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
Mile	3:57.02	-	Aug 17	Gateshead
1500m	3:39.77	-	Aug 15	Weltklasse Zürich, Zürich
Mile	3:55.19	-	Aug 12	Portsmouth
1500m	3:37.43	-	Aug 7	-
1500m	3:37.55	-	Jul 16	Barcelona
1500m	3:38.38	-	Jul 14	Oslo Bislett Games, Oslo
1500m	3:39.87	-	Jul 4	Berlin
Mile	3:59.54	-	Jul 1	-
1500m	3:53.77	-	Feb 3	Auckland Commonwealth Games
1500m	3:37.28	-	Jan 23	North Shore, North Shore City

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
1500m	3:41.28	-	Sep 19	New Delhi
1500m	3:40.74	-	Aug 13	Pieksämäki
1500m	3:37.61	-	Aug 10	Malmö
3000m	7:54.53	-	Aug 2	Stockholm
1500m	3:38.28	-	Jul 25	La Coruna, La Coruña
1500m	3:35.96	-	Jul 19	Pescara Golden Gala, Stadio Adriatico, Pescara
Mile	3:58.29	-	Jul 17	Belfast
3000m	7:45.64	-	Jul 14	London Royal Mail Parcels Games, Crystal Palace, London
1500m	3:38.82	-	Jul 3	Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm
Mile	3:54.28	-	Jul 1	Oslo Bislett Games, Oslo
1500m	3:37.3	-	Jul 1	-
3000m	7:49.91	-	Jun 27	Kvarnsveden

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
1500m	3:37.22	-	Jul 27	Verona Golden Gala, Verona
1500m	3:41.32	-	Jul 12	Dublin
5000m	13:39.79	-	Jul 5	Cork
1500m	3:36.3	-	Jul 2	-
Mile	3:52.48	-	Jul 2	Oslo Bislett Games, Oslo
1500m	3:38.99	-	Jun 27	Belfast
Mile	3:58.2HT	-	Mar 22	Auckland
5000m	13:37.9HT	-	Mar 19	Auckland
1500m	3:43.70	-	Feb 27	Auckland
mile-short-track	3:59.99	-	Jan 22	Los Angeles, CA (i)
1500m	3:42.11	-	Jan 21	Auckland
3000m-short-track	8:05.45	-	Jan 15	Hamilton (i)

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
2000m	5:03.11	-	Sep 15	Athletissima Lausanne, Lausanne
Mile	4:01.32	-	Sep 13	London
1500m	3:34.81	-	Sep 8	Rieti
1500m	3:45.14	-	Aug 25	Boras, Borås
Mile	3:59.48	-	Aug 22	London
2Miles	8:23.32	-	Aug 14	London
1500m	3:37.1HT	-	Aug 10	Malmö
1500m	3:35.27	-	Aug 5	Oslo
Mile	3:58.75	-	Jul 26	Gateshead
1500m	3:34.79	-	Jul 22	Roma Golden Gala, Roma
Mile	3:59.26	-	Jul 20	Belfast
Mile	3:55.04	-	Jul 15	Barcelona
3000m	7:52.48	-	Jul 10	London Peugeot-Talbot Games, London
5000m	13:30.51	-	Jul 7	Cork
1500m	3:39.09	-	Jul 1	Aarhus, Århus
2000Metres	5:07.59	-	Feb 20	Inglewood, CA (i)

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is John Walker's Mile Short Track personal best?

John Walker's Mile Short Track personal best is 3:52.8h, set on Feb 20, 1981 in San Diego, CA (USA) (i).

Which events does John Walker compete in?

John Walker competes in the Mile Short Track and 2000 Metres.

How did John Walker perform in 1990?

1990 season best: 3:37.28, set on Jan 23, 1990 in North Shore City (NZL).

How many medals has John Walker won?

John Walker has won 1 Olympic Games medal.

John Walker

Personal bests

Medals

Performance Charts

Season bests

1990

1989

1988

1987

Honours

Frequently asked questions