Peter Snell: Gentleman, Athlete, Scholar

The 3-time Olympic medalist studies to figure out how he did it

January 24, 2012

To track fans, Peter Snell is a triple Olympic gold medalist. To his native New Zealanders, he's Sir Peter Snell, OBE. In the academic community he's Dr. Snell, Ph.D., director of the Human Performance Laboratory at UT Southwestern Medical Center in his hometown of Dallas, Texas. He's co-written three books–one on his running career, another on the mix of science and sport, and the third, titled Use It or Lose It, on adult fitness. At 73 years old, he's put on a few pounds, takes a few more naps, but shows few signs of any desire to rest on his laurels.

Why should a middle-distance runner be doing 22-mile runs? Why is rest and recuperation important? What role does a coach play in a runner's development? What's more important to an athlete, psychology or physiology? Snell's search for answers to these questions has taken much longer than his rather brief athletic career, but the trip has been equally, if not more satisfying for the boy from Opunake, New Zealand, who burst onto the Olympic stage with a surprise gold medal in the 800m in the 1960 Rome Olympics.

"I grew up in a sporting family," says Snell of his athletic roots. His mother played tennis, his father golf. Solidly built and muscular, Snell began his athletic career in "ball games"–rugby, cricket, golf and tennis. He was most successful at tennis, where he won school championships, but also had early indications that he had talent in running. Despite doing only occasional runs and some cycling, he was able to win or place in school competitions.

"I liked being successful," Snell says of his school sports career. "If you're good at something, it's motivating. You do certain sports because of the recognition factor."

Someone who recognized Snell's running talent was, he says, "one of the guys who was beating me in high school," Michael Macky, who was coached by Arthur Lydiard. Macky had put his running on the back burner as he concentrated on his university studies. In 1958, he was watching from the stands as Snell lowered his PR in the 800 to 1:54. Enthused, Macky came down to the track and asked his former rival, "Who's coaching you?" Nobody. "You've got to go and see Arthur [Lydiard]." Macky set up a meeting, and Snell joined the running club coached by Lydiard.

"I decided to drop my other activities and become a runner," says Snell.