Dick Tayler

In the early 2000s a national newspaper ran a readers' poll seeking the most memorable television moment in New Zealand sports history. Dick Tayler's 10,000m victory at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games was an overwhelming winner.

That moment had everything. It was unexpected - the three Englishmen, including world record-holder David Bedford, and the three Kenyans were the favourites. It was on a big stage - the first day of athletics at the Christchurch Commonwealth Games was a truly international occasion. It was televised live and, a bonus, it was one of the first coloured transmissions in New Zealand.

Best of all, the winner was so genuinely shocked and delighted with what he’d done that onlookers, those at the Queen Elizabeth II stadium and those watching television, could not help but be delighted.

Tayler, a 25-year-old athlete who had laboured in the long shadows of Dick Quax, Rod Dixon and the emerging John Walker, simply could not contain his excitement. After he crossed the finish line, he thrust his arms in the air and leapt with delight. Then he collapsed on his back on the track and rolled over with excitement, before getting to his feet and showing the world the biggest smile imaginable.

That gold medal run, and the joyous scenes afterwards, launched a remarkable Commonwealth Games, and turned Tayler into an overnight celebrity. On the strength of that one effort, he was voted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, was the subject of a This Is Your Life programme and became a household name.

Memories of that triumph remained vivid. What made the story even more remarkable was that Tayler had been found wanting at previous Games.

He was born in 1948 in Timaru, which had produced champion athletes like Jack Lovelock and Pat Boot. Tayler seemed sure to follow their line, even recording a world record mile run for a 15-year-old.

But though he trained prodigiously, he was not able to turn his talent into international success. He ran at the 1970 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games and, though doing near his best in the 5000m, could finish just 10th, the same position he earned in the 1500m final.

At the Munich Olympics in 1972, he was not very far off his 5000m best, yet was swallowed up by the mass of world-class talent and failed to get past his heat.

Sure, there had been moments of athletics happiness. He was a member of a New Zealand 4 x mile relay team which set a world record, and he’d turned in some fine cross-country performances. In addition, a marathon time of 2h 16min pointed to future greatness at that distance. But really he had nothing to show for the years of sweat and the hopes. No medals, no international successes. He kept training, though, believing that one day he could achieve something great.

That day came on January 25, 1974. Who would have believed, as they watched Tayler in his moment of triumph, that within a few months he would be confined to a hospital bed and would never run competitively again?

Tayler eventually settled in Christchurch, where for years he worked for DB, as an accounts manager for sports clubs. Previously he’d been marketing manager for the New Zealand Harness Racing Conference. He has become a most humorous and in-demand public speaker.

Decades after his moment of glory, he said he was still often asked about that 10,000m race. “I can remember it like it was yesterday,” he said.

"I don’t think the part Arthur Lydiard played in that race has ever really been recognised. He planned the whole race for me, told me who would do what and when, and he was exactly right. And Arthur was a wonderful motivator. He made me believe in myself, which is half the battle."

About two weeks before the race, Tayler ran a personal best 5000m in training, an indication that things were coming together well. In fact, armed with the knowledge that he had run into superlative form, it was difficult for Tayler to remain low-key, to be patient. That’s where Lydiard’s experience was invaluable.

"I knew I was in the best form of my life. In the back of my mind, I was hoping for a medal. Really, though, the goal was to run w