Australian distance running legend Steve Moneghetti looks back with pride on his remarkable sporting career, while standing on the trail named after him at the beautiful Lake Wendouree in the regional Victorian city of Ballarat.
Moneghetti is one of very few athletes with a full cupboard of marathon running medals.
After winning bronze at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh and silver at the 1990 Games in Auckland, he finally claimed the elusive gold medal at the 1994 Games in Victoria, completing a medal collection eight years in the making.
“I was probably the favourite to win that race, and all I had to do was execute a good race,” Moneghetti said.
“It worked out really well; I won fairly comfortably so I could really enjoy the last couple of kilometers.
“I also felt it wasn’t luck, especially as you’ve worked so hard, so you appreciate the moment a lot more.”
Moneghetti, 67, is the latest athlete to feature in Australian Athletics’ 2026 Under the Surface series, created in partnership with Rio Tinto.
To this day, he still runs around his beloved Lake Wendouree, the place where his love of the sport first began.
As one of Ballarat’s most recognisable figures, Moneghetti is happy to chat with locals who grew up watching him dominate marathons throughout his running career.
“I always think back to my first running event, I went with my next-door neighbour,” he said.
“I went out and ran that race and just felt so comfortable in that environment.
“I don’t remember that much about the race, but apparently I ran OK.
“I just felt that environment was so welcoming.
“I thought, I love this, and I look forward to doing this for a very long time.”
From those early days running around Ballarat, Moneghetti’s journey eventually led him to the Commonwealth Games. He competed in the 10,000m at his first Games in 1986 before his coach convinced him to transition to the marathon, a decision that would define his career.
He loved the feeling of completing a marathon; the feeling of overcoming physical and mental challenges as he crossed the finish line.
“The thing about the marathon is it’s not over in a short space of time,” he said.
“You are out there for over two hours, and you are pushing yourself to the limit.
“You have to pace yourself, but in the later part of the marathon it all becomes about personal drive.
“Internally your body is screaming at you.”
After retiring following the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Moneghetti has remained closely connected with athletics, the sport he loves so much.
Alongside a long and decorated career in sports administration, he continues to help shape the future of Australian sport through his roles on the boards of Australian Athletics and Commonwealth Games Australia.
More than four decades after his running journey began in Ballarat, Moneghetti’s connection to Australian athletics remains as strong as ever, cementing his place as a true legend of the sport.
His story is the latest to feature in the 2026 Under the Surface series, powered by Rio Tinto, which explores the people, moments and experiences that have shaped Australian athletics.
By Luke Dennehy, Australian Athletics
Posted 19/8/2026
