1956 Olympic Marathon Champion in Melbourne
16 November 1999ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA PRESS RELEASE
ALAIN MIMOUN, the Gold Medallist in the Marathon event at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, will be visiting Melbourne from 18 - 24 November at the invitation of Athletics International.
Representing France, Mimoun achieved his greatest success in Melbourne after winning three silver medals at the 1948 and 1952 Olympics behind the legendary Czech runner Emil Zatopek.
Alain now 79 years of age will unveil a monument to mark the turning point of the 1956 Olympic Marathon at Princes Reserve on Princes Highway, East Oakleigh at noon on Saturday 20th November. This monument has been provided by the City of Monash and Athletics International. Many past and present champions of Australian distance running will be in attendance including John Landy, Ron Clarke, Steve Moneghetti, and Les Perry who represented Australia in the 1956 Marathon. The public are invited to attend the unveiling.
President of Athletics International, former 100m Champion and Olympian Bob Lay stated "it’s an honour to have Alain visit Melbourne where he achieved a milestone in his athletic career". He added, "our club deemed his unveiling of the monument to be an important part of Melbourne’s Olympic history".
The visit of Alain Mimoun to Melbourne is being supported by the French Olympic Committee and L'EQUIPE.
Contact for further information is John Murray, Secretary of Athletics International on (03) 9893 3341.
END OF RELEASE.
This information has been provided by Athletics Australia.
Suite 22, Fawkner Towers, 431 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
Phone: 61 3 98203511 Fax: 61 3 9820 3544 Email: athletics@athletics.org.au Web: http://www.athletics.org.au
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