Jack Lovelock
Encyclopedia
John Edward Lovelock (5 January 1910 – 28 December 1949) was a New Zealand
athlete, and the 1936 Olympic
champion in the 1500 metres
.
Born in the town of Crushington
(near Reefton) as the son of English
immigrants, Lovelock showed a talent for sports while at Timaru Boys' High School
. He studied medicine at the University of Otago
, while competing for the university team in the New Zealand 1 miles (1.6 km) championships. In 1931 he became a Rhodes Scholar
at Exeter College
, Oxford
. He graduated as a medical practitioner.
In 1932 - by then holder of the British Empire record for the mile - Lovelock competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles
, and placed 7th in the final of the 1500 metres event.
The following year, he set a world record
of 4:07.6 in the mile when running at Princeton against its emerging champion Bill Bonthron. Later, in September, he represented New Zealand in the first World Student Games where he renewed his rivalry with the 1500m champion from Los Angeles in 1932, Luigi Beccali. Beccali edged Lovelock in the final and equalled the world record for the event. In 1934
Lovelock won the gold medal in the mile at the British Empire Games. He also lost some races, and believed that he could only make one supreme effort in a season.
The highlight of Lovelock's career came in 1936, when he won the gold medal in the 1500 m at the Berlin Olympics
, setting a world record in the final (3:47.8). Lovelock had plotted ever since his defeat at Los Angeles and developed a revolutionary tactic. The race is regarded as one of the finest 1500 m Olympic finals and included one of the finest fields assembled. The final was a culmination of the first great era of mile running from 1932-36 in which the world records for the 1500m and mile were broken several times. Apart from Lovelock and the American mile world record holder Glenn Cunningham who broke Lovelock's record a year later in 1934, also at Princeton, Bonthron, the 1932 Olympic Games 1500m champion at Los Angeles, Luigi Beccali and the emerging English champion Sydney Wooderson raced in Berlin. Bonthron, who held the world 1500m record, failed to make the US team, while Wooderson was found to have a fracture in his ankle and missed the final. The silver medalist in Los Angeles, John 'Jerry' Cornes also raced in Berlin along with the Swedish champion Erik Ny and the outstanding Canadian athlete Phil Edwards and another American Gene Venzke, who had been regarded as the favourite for the 1932 title until injury denied him a place in the US team. In the final, Lovelock beat Glenn Cunningham, who came in second, by making the unprecedented break from 300 m out. Lovelock had been regarded as a sprinter in the home straight but cleverly disguised his plan and caught his opponents napping with a brilliantly-timed move. Cunningham, who also broke the world record in the race, was considered by many to be the greatest American miler of all time. Beccali was third.
Lovelock, who was the captain of the New Zealand Olympic team, despite having lived in Britain as a Rhodes Scholar since 1931, raced once more for the British Commonwealth after Berlin and his last race was back at Princeton en route to a Government-sponsored trip to New Zealand where he was beaten by another of the Olympic finalists Archie San Romani. Lovelock maintained his interest in athletics until at least the outbreak of the Second World War as a newspaper contributor.
. He married Cynthia James in 1945 and had two daughters. A year later, he began working at Manhattan Hospital in New York. On 28 December 1949, he was waiting at the Church Avenue station
when he fell onto the tracks, probably as a result of one of the dizziness attacks he was subject to. He had telephoned his wife from work that day to inform her that he was coming home early because he was not feeling well. He was then killed by an oncoming train.
post office issued a set of stamps featuring Lovelock along with George Nepia
.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage refers to a "Lovelock legend", and describes him as having "captured the imagination of New Zealanders and others. Streets, playing fields and sports bars have been named after him. He has inspired books, stamps, a stage play and a film. In 2002 a statue was erected at Timaru Boys' High, where much of the memorabilia related to him is stored."
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
athlete, and the 1936 Olympic
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
champion in the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
.
Born in the town of Crushington
Crushington, New Zealand
Crushington is a town in New Zealand. It is known as the birthplace of Olympic athlete John Edward "Jack" Lovelock.The settlement is located three kilometres inland from Reefton, on the Lewis Pass road between the West Coast of the South Island and north Canterbury.The town was originally a...
(near Reefton) as the son of English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
immigrants, Lovelock showed a talent for sports while at Timaru Boys' High School
Timaru Boys' High School
Timaru Boys' High School , established in 1880, is a single sex state secondary school located in the port city of Timaru, South Canterbury, New Zealand. TBHS caters for years 9 - 13 ....
. He studied medicine at the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
, while competing for the university team in the New Zealand 1 miles (1.6 km) championships. In 1931 he became a Rhodes Scholar
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
at Exeter College
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. He graduated as a medical practitioner.
In 1932 - by then holder of the British Empire record for the mile - Lovelock competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, and placed 7th in the final of the 1500 metres event.
The following year, he set a world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
of 4:07.6 in the mile when running at Princeton against its emerging champion Bill Bonthron. Later, in September, he represented New Zealand in the first World Student Games where he renewed his rivalry with the 1500m champion from Los Angeles in 1932, Luigi Beccali. Beccali edged Lovelock in the final and equalled the world record for the event. In 1934
1934 British Empire Games
The 1934 British Empire Games were the second of what is now known as the Commonwealth Games. They were held at the White City Stadium in London, England from 4–11 August 1934, apart from the cycling at Fallowfield Stadium, Manchester, and the swimming, which took place at the Empire Pool in Wembley...
Lovelock won the gold medal in the mile at the British Empire Games. He also lost some races, and believed that he could only make one supreme effort in a season.
The highlight of Lovelock's career came in 1936, when he won the gold medal in the 1500 m at the Berlin Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
, setting a world record in the final (3:47.8). Lovelock had plotted ever since his defeat at Los Angeles and developed a revolutionary tactic. The race is regarded as one of the finest 1500 m Olympic finals and included one of the finest fields assembled. The final was a culmination of the first great era of mile running from 1932-36 in which the world records for the 1500m and mile were broken several times. Apart from Lovelock and the American mile world record holder Glenn Cunningham who broke Lovelock's record a year later in 1934, also at Princeton, Bonthron, the 1932 Olympic Games 1500m champion at Los Angeles, Luigi Beccali and the emerging English champion Sydney Wooderson raced in Berlin. Bonthron, who held the world 1500m record, failed to make the US team, while Wooderson was found to have a fracture in his ankle and missed the final. The silver medalist in Los Angeles, John 'Jerry' Cornes also raced in Berlin along with the Swedish champion Erik Ny and the outstanding Canadian athlete Phil Edwards and another American Gene Venzke, who had been regarded as the favourite for the 1932 title until injury denied him a place in the US team. In the final, Lovelock beat Glenn Cunningham, who came in second, by making the unprecedented break from 300 m out. Lovelock had been regarded as a sprinter in the home straight but cleverly disguised his plan and caught his opponents napping with a brilliantly-timed move. Cunningham, who also broke the world record in the race, was considered by many to be the greatest American miler of all time. Beccali was third.
Lovelock, who was the captain of the New Zealand Olympic team, despite having lived in Britain as a Rhodes Scholar since 1931, raced once more for the British Commonwealth after Berlin and his last race was back at Princeton en route to a Government-sponsored trip to New Zealand where he was beaten by another of the Olympic finalists Archie San Romani. Lovelock maintained his interest in athletics until at least the outbreak of the Second World War as a newspaper contributor.
Later life
He was in the R.A.M.C. during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He married Cynthia James in 1945 and had two daughters. A year later, he began working at Manhattan Hospital in New York. On 28 December 1949, he was waiting at the Church Avenue station
Church Avenue (IND Culver Line)
Church Avenue is an express station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Church and McDonald Avenues in Kensington, Brooklyn, it is served by the F and G trains at all times, the latter of which terminates here....
when he fell onto the tracks, probably as a result of one of the dizziness attacks he was subject to. He had telephoned his wife from work that day to inform her that he was coming home early because he was not feeling well. He was then killed by an oncoming train.
Posthumous Commemorations
In 1990 the New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
post office issued a set of stamps featuring Lovelock along with George Nepia
George Nepia
George Nepia was a Māori rugby union and rugby league player. He is remembered as an exceptional full-back and one of the most famous Māori rugby players. He was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. In 2004 he was selected as number 65 by the panel of the New Zealand's Top...
.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage refers to a "Lovelock legend", and describes him as having "captured the imagination of New Zealanders and others. Streets, playing fields and sports bars have been named after him. He has inspired books, stamps, a stage play and a film. In 2002 a statue was erected at Timaru Boys' High, where much of the memorabilia related to him is stored."
External links
- sports-reference.com
- Extensive biography from the Dictionary of New Zealand
- Biography from 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand
- Biography at New Zealand Olympic Committee
- Jack Lovelock Athlete & Doctor Latest Biography
- Jack Lovelock, photo after Mile of the Century in 1935
- As If Running on Air: The Journals of Jack Lovelock
- http://www.sportsbooks.ltd.uk/book_info/conquerors.html