Jim Peters the marathon hero

A Modernized Marathon

At a time when the pace was more moderate, Jim already imposed a fast pace from the start, which helped change performance standards. His races earned him several records, notably being the first to run a marathon in under 2 hours 20 minutes, in 1953 (2h18'40"). This was followed by four official world records in the marathon between 1952 and 1954.

The Vancouver Games, the dramatic turning point of his career.

During the Commonwealth Games in Vancouver in 1954, the athlete arrived at the stadium with a 17-minute lead over his nearest competitor. Exhausted by the effort under the stifling heat, he collapsed repeatedly on the track. He never managed to cross the finish line despite his heroic attempts. This tragic collapse, filmed and photographed, became one of the most memorable moments in the history of athletics. Peters was taken out of the stadium in critical condition. After this event, he decided never to run a marathon again, ending his career. Despite this drama, Jim Peters is considered a pioneer of high-level racing due to his audacious nature, aggressive pace, and steel mentality. Like Grete Wait, he broke speed records and etched his name among the greatest records.