The Melbourne & Olympic Parks Trust has paid tribute to legendary Olympian and former Governor of Victoria, John Landy, following the news of his passing aged 91.

The first Australian and the second man ever to run a four-minute mile, Landy made a rich contribution to Victoria and Australia’s sporting landscape across his career as an athlete, scientist and the 26th Governor of Victoria.

He is immortalised in bronze at Olympic Park Oval, alongside compatriot athlete Ron Clarke, with whom he shared an iconic act of sportsmanship during the 1956 Australian Mile Championship.

In the final of the mile race, Landy stopped and doubled back to check on Clarke after another runner clipped Clarke’s heel, causing him to fall early in the third lap of the race.

Landy was a bronze medalist at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, and held world records for the 1500-metre run and the mile race.