The GREAT Black Singlet

I grew up a little behind being able to experience Snell and, although I met Sir Peter five minutes after a World Masters table tennis championship match years later, it was clear that losing was not something he accepted easily. One of my children stayed for a weekend with Sir Peter and Miki Snell prior to the great man’s death in 2019 and would swear that he has never met a greater human.

That is one of the reasons we should celebrate the four incredible medals at the world athletic championships this week. A silver to Eliza McCartney in the pole vault (a simply incredible come-back story against physical and financial barriers). A shot-put silver from the great Tom Walshe. Then measure 2 meters 36cm on your wall and understand that Hamish Kerr cleared that height to set a new world indoor championship record after winning the event’s gold medal.

In 1960 we had the unprecedented situation where Peter Snell (at 20 years old) charged past the favourite, Roger Moens, to win the men’s’ 800m gold medal at the Rome Olympics. Just 90 minutes after Murray Halberg had smashed the 5000m field to win his gold.

The achievement this week of 27 year old Geordie Beamish to win the world indoor championships men’s 1500m is right up with Lovelock, Snell, Dixon, Walker, Rogers and Willis. I am not sure that I have ever seen a NZer come from so far back in a field to win against this quality in a major event. Just watch the black singlet throughout this race and feel proud.

This is an achievement every young, and not so young, kiwi can look up to as they set their goals.