Why did Herb Elliot Retire at 22?

For my measly opinion, it wouldn't matter what else he could have done after Rome- that Olympic final was more than enough to cement him as a legend.

Before 1981alan's stuff got taken off youtube, there was this great interview with Elliot from the mid-80s where he said something to the effect of "I don't know if people who said I retired early are stupid, but the way I prepared myself for races was too mentally and physically draining to maintain for very long."

I miss 1981aLan....

lab/chow wrote:

'I miss 1981aLan....

'

Agreed, he was a legend on you tube. Re watched loads of 1981 on youtube and even better some missed races or where I had forgotten the result

Wonder if his vids are available anywhere else?

I’d forgotten the details of who was actually in the Combi that toured Europe.

What an extraordinary line up of athletic talent crowded into a second-hand van - I doubt if any of those who dealt them during their wanderings had any idea who they were.

Can one imagine that happening these days.

Cuthbert, already a double Olympic gold medallist - and I’d also forgotten about Halberg running a sub- four in that race as well.

Was there ever as mentally tough a runner as Halberg - with his withered arm, the result of a rugby injury in his youth, flapping away uselessly - but still capable of shocking and beating the East Europeans in the Rome Olympic 5000.

He’d probably be eligible to run in the ParaOlympics nowadays.

There’s no doubt they received tiny cash payments by today’s standards by the various promoters, under the counter as it were - but it’s often forgotten just how careful they had to be, because it meant instant disqualification from competing at athletics were they ever found out.

No to 2012 wrote:

Was there ever as mentally tough a runner as Halberg - with his withered arm, the result of a rugby injury in his youth, flapping away uselessly - but still capable of shocking and beating the East Europeans in the Rome Olympic 5000.

He’d probably be eligible to run in the ParaOlympics nowadays.

the great man in action

Barry in SD wrote:

John Gilmore is well and living South of Perth.

His eyesight has gotten worse lately and he is currently only running around the house and heading out for long walks.

John will turn 90 next year. He had his book published about 5 years ago - have you seen it?

If you're talking about "All In My Stride," yes, though I think the book has been out for more like ten years. I bought a copy in Gateshead at the 1999 WAVA Games. If there's another book then no. Thanks for the update.

As there was no money in running in 1960 Herb decided to make a living for himself and his family. Unfortunately, he just lost $22 million worth of stock (according to The Ausralian Financial Review) last year as a client of Opes Prime. I'm sure he will be able to get Fortescue Metals to print some more shares for him as he is on the company's board.

This is exactly why I love this web site...stories of the legends and those who remember them. I've always considered Herb Elliot the greatest miler of all-time since I first read of his exploits in 1972 (when I first started running), and nothing has changed my mind since then. An unblemished mile record, world record holder - what else is there? As for retirement, not at all surprising when you have topped everyone in the world, live in the land of Anaerobia with Percy Cerutty driving you, and no financial incentive. Why would you keep competing at that level?

Barry in SD wrote:

Here is another mile race won by Elliot from 1959 in Australia

http://australianscreen.com.au/titles/what-makes-champion/clip3/

My coach, John Gilmore lived in Perth and would run 6 mile tempos on the road with other local distance runners. When Herb was in town he would join in - plowing through the sand next to the road as the group went along at 5-5.10/mile pace.

Thanks for posting this link. Pretty amazing.

Quitting at 22 seems strange now but was not in earlier times.

Arnold Strode Jackson of the UK won the Olympic 1500 gold medal in 1912 when 21 and retired.

John Woodruff of the US won the Olympic 800 gold in 1936 when 21, ran another 3 years and retired

Wes Santee, 3-time US champion 1500m/mile, AR holder in the mile and WR holder in the 1500m, and an Olympian, retired at 22 after getting grief on expense reimbursement from the AAU

Bruce Kidd of Canada , an Olympian and 2-time US XC champion, retired at 21, Injuries I think

I used "retired" loosely, as each of the above may not have officially announced a retirement at that time, and may even have run a few more races (like Elliott), but I believe they stopped competing running at the international level at the ages above. People can correct me if I am wrong on any of the ages.

You're not wrong. Some people completely left the sport but some stuck around and just were not as serious as when they were internationalists. Gordon Pirie retired in 1960 or 61 but kept right on racing and training. Bill Baillie and Barry Magee kept on running and racing after "retirement."

I was standing there when someone (it may have been Brian Lenton) asked Herb why he retired at 22 when he could have been so much better if he had kept running.(sic) His reply "I couldn't have been any better." In talking with many who knew Perc and Herb, it appears that Herb loved to run, but he didn't like racing or training.

I've told the story before about how Herb beat Merv Lincoln in a race in Queensland after Drinking and smoking all the way over on a flight from the US. Merv knew he was racing Herb, Herb didn't know he was racing Merv until the plane landed. It was at that point that Merv realized he'd never beat him.

RayL wrote:

I was standing there when someone (it may have been Brian Lenton) asked Herb why he retired at 22 when he could have been so much better if he had kept running.(sic) His reply "I couldn't have been any better." In talking with many who knew Perc and Herb, it appears that Herb loved to run, but he didn't like racing or training.

I've told the story before about how Herb beat Merv Lincoln in a race in Queensland after Drinking and smoking all the way over on a flight from the US. Merv knew he was racing Herb, Herb didn't know he was racing Merv until the plane landed. It was at that point that Merv realized he'd never beat him.

I thought it was that they both took the train together, and Herb drank a beer and smoked a few cigs. It was the '59 Aus champs. the bell in 3:01, and Lincoln put his head down and thought, "This is my chance to beat him". 5y from the line Elliott tagged him 3:59.0 to 3:59.1

What shocked Lincoln was that here was a man, so clearly out of shape that he was still dry heaving 30 minutes after the race, and yet Lincoln couldn't beat him.

Lincoln never ran well again.

Same gist...

I'm certain it was a plane and the race was in Queensland. Herb had gone to the US to get the Sullivan Award and didn't know about the race until he got back. I think he may have taken a plane from Melbourne to Brisbane with Merv and that is where he saw him smoking and drinking and figured it was all his. Alas, Herb still beat him.

Lincoln never ran well again.

I believe the story of that race is in the book, The Lonely Breed. Great book.

Maine Mt. wrote:

Lincoln never ran well again.

I believe the story of that race is in the book, The Lonely Breed. Great book.

I got it from "The Milers" by Cordner Nelson

Great opening description of Elliot - ".. a hawk nose broken in 3 varied violences by the age of 17. Fearless in both training and racing..."