Rod Dixon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's athletics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | Munich 1972 | 1500 metres | |
Rodney ("Rod") Phillip Dixon (born July 13, 1950 in Nelson, New Zealand) is a former middle and long distance runner from New Zealand. He won the bronze medal over 1500 metres at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, and in 1983 won the prestigious New York City Marathon.
Dixon, along with John Walker and Dick Quax, was one of a trio of world-class middle distance runners from New Zealand in the 1970s. He was the first of the three to taste Olympic success, but was then somewhat overshadowed by the other two over the next few years, particularly by his good friend Walker. Dixon placed fourth in the 5000 metres at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, in which Quax won the silver medal.
Ultimately, however, Rod Dixon was regarded as especially outstanding for the length and versatility of his career as a top-flight runner. He set world class times in all events from 1500 m to marathon, won bronze medals in the World Cross Country Championships in 1973 and 1982, and was one of the athletes who dominated the US road racing circuit in the early 80s. His gradual move to longer distances was climaxed by his 1983 marathon victory in New York City, in one of the most dramatic finishes the event has seen.
