Sir Murray Halberg died on Wednesday evening aged 89.
Halberg captured the public’s imagination when he won gold in the 5000m at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, but he also collected back-to-back Commonwealth Games gold medals in the three-mile race in Cardiff in 1958 and Perth in 1962.
He was also the first New Zealander to break the four-minute barrier for the mile.
His athletic achievements were even more extraordinary when you take into account his back story. Halberg overcame a rugby injury as a youth which left his left arm withered.
He received an MBE in 1961, was knighted in 1988 and appointed to the Order of New Zealand in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours.
Following his athletics career he founded what is now known as the Halberg Foundation in 1963.
The foundation revived the old Sportsman of the Year awards, which had gone into recess in 1961 and 1962.
Broadcaster and former runner Paul Allison counted Halberg as a close family friend.
Allison stayed with him in his home on Waiheke Island during the 2011 Rugby World Cup and told the Otago Daily Times Halberg was a "very special man".
"He cared deeply about people ... and was extremely passionate about ensuring all people had an opportunity to participate in recreation and sport," Allison said.
"That was a driving force behind him establishing the Halberg [Foundation]."
"He was a very generous man and just a really grounded person.
"He was also a very humble character and did not look for the limelight — he was quite happy for other people to be in focus. But he was a very tough competitor and highly respected for what he did."
Runner Dick Tayler, who won gold in the 10,000m at the 1974 Commonwealth Games, described Halberg as one of New Zealand’s greatest athletes and an inspiration.
"He was a very special and very unassuming guy. He was one of our greats, but quite happy to sit down and not make a fuss.
"But he was a great motivator and a very, very astute guy, and he was prepared to help other people. He was an inspiration to those who knew him."
Halberg is survived by his wife, Lady Phyllis, and his children, Greta, Carl and Stefan.
