14 Mar 2024

NZ Sporting History: Arthur Lydiard

From Afternoons, 2:30 pm on 14 March 2024

There are few New Zealand athletes who's influence extends to millions of people around the world.

But marathon runner and athletics coach Arthur Lydiard's running programme fundamentally changed the sport.

He spent 13 years developing a training method, which he would test before and after going to his day job at a shoe factory. He inspired everyday people to run, and some of them became world champions.

To take a look back, we're joined by Olympian and coach Barry Magee.

Barry was known as one of the "Lydiard Boys", alongside Peter Snell and Murray Halberg.

Athletics legend Arthur Lydiard sits atop a statue of him 2001.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT