World champion runner and former Gold Coast mayor, Ron Clarke has died at the age of 78.
His prominence on the athletics track in the 1950s and 1960s made him one of Australia’s greatest middle and distance runners.
Clarke had a succession of atheltic feats, setting 17 world records in his time.
In 1956 at age 19, Clarke was chosen to light the flame during the opening ceremony of the Melbourne Olympics.
The athlete claimed bronze in the 10,000 metre event at the 1964 Olympics.
After his athletics career ended, he served two terms as the Gold Coast mayor from 2004.
Ron Clarke died after a short illness.
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