Rod Dixon was one of the most versatile athletes New Zealand has had, running at an elite level over such diverse distances as 1500 metres and the marathon, as well as cross-country. He was the 1500 metres bronze medalist at the Munich Olympic Games in 1972, was fourth in the 5000 metres at the Montreal Olympics four years later and 10th in the Los Angeles Olympics marathon in 1984. In between, he had won the British and New Zealand cross-country titles and was twice third in the world cross-country championships. He also won a series of national 1500 metres titles and was a member of the New Zealand team that set a world 4×1500 relay record. He also won the New York marathon in 1983. He worked as an insurance inspector.
Personal Bests: 1500 – 3:33.89 (1974); 5000 – 13:17.27 (1976); Mar – 2-08:59 (1983).
New Zealand