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Chief aths writer signs off
When Len Johnson began work in the IT industry, many computers were the size of telephone boxes, or even bigger – a far cry from the tiny lap top he will have used today – his last as Chief Athletics Writer for The Age.
After 22 years with the newspaper, the opportunity to take a package from his employers, has opened up the next stanza in Len’s career, one which will no doubt continue to include a substantial connection with athletics.
That affiliation began in earnest in the early 1970s when he began to train seriously as a distance runner in Melbourne – amidst the great culture for that part of the sport which had developed in Victoria – of pack runs, of the Zatopek, of the VMC and the like. Chris Wardlaw and Rob de Castella, with whom he later produced a biography, were amongst many training colleagues.
It was the beginning of a genuine love affair with a sport, that Len has since been able to pursue both professionally and as a committed voluntary contributor.
As an athlete, there were some noteworthy moments. Len was no slouch. He says his best achievement was in 1978 in Fukuoka, then the pre-eminent marathon race in the world after the Olympics. Len ran 2:19.32 – then the seventh fastest time ever run by an Australian in the marathon.
But there was also a fifth placing in the Australian Olympic Trial in 1980. The first three went to the Games, so strong was Australia in the event at the time. If two of them had not been there, so well too may have Len.
The Moscow Olympics, and the controversies that surrounded them, seem to engage Len with his sport even more. He researched a book with Chris Wardlaw on the Games boycott and related politics, but it was never published.
But it inspired him to change career, taking up the option to work with Terry O’Halloran on the staff of his then fledgling magazine, Australian Runner. Despite have no formal training as a journalist it led to a 28 year career to date in the profession.
After four years with the magazine, Len went to work with Athletics Australia, which had established an office in Canberra to organise the 1985 World Cup. It was an exciting period, culminating in an event which began a year out almost as a secret and ended with an extraordinary set of performances at the meet itself, including two world records that remain standing in 2008.
Having expanded his involvement in journalism earlier by becoming a freelancer with The Age, Len was then in a position to accept a full time role with the paper in 1986. In an article in Inside in February 2006, Michael Gordon admitted that as Sports Editor in 1986 he had taken a chance with someone with no formal training in the industry,
“I had come to know Len as an occasional contributor and was impressed by his knowledge of, and passion for, athletics (and distance running in particular) and his willingness to learn more about journalism.”
Thereafter Len immersed himself in providing a superb coverage of athletics, as well as working in other sports such as football and hockey. Whilst his connection with and love for distance running as emphasised in Gordon’s comment, was without question an ever present theme in Len’s writings on athletics, there was much delivered about athletes in all events and the issues of the sport.
One of the great benefits the sport received courtesy of Len Johnson, was his preparedness to write about the small good news issues as well as the major stories. Not that this prevented Len from being at the forefront of commentary on all of the sport’s big controversies.
His detailed knowledge of athletics and his ability to retain a broad range of statistical and historical data, have provided depth to his writings on the sport to date.
What happens next for a significant contributor to athletics is not immediately clear.
But it is bound to involve a connection with his club, Glenhuntly and according to his wife, Athletics Victoria President Anne Lord, some considerable time addressing the backyard situation at home.
Athletics Australia congratulates Len on a fine career to date and extends its thanks for a wonderful contribution, so far, to the sport. It looks forward to benefiting into the future from his passion, knowledge and commitment.
Brian RoePhoto: Courtesy of Trevor Vincent
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