Sir Murray Halberg

Perhaps no name in New Zealand athletics history transcends the sport quite like Sir Murray Halberg.

During an extraordinary life, the Kiwi legend overcame a severe arm injury to become an Olympic 5000m gold medallist, while his inspirational work to transform the life of children with a disability through sport via the Halberg Foundation has left a powerful legacy few can match.

Born in Eketahuna but raised in Auckland, Halberg, who attended Avondale College, was a keen sportsman in his youth. He enjoyed both cricket and rugby and also enjoyed some success running for Owairaka Athletic Club.

At the age of 17, however, the shape of his sporting life was to alter after he sustained a serious shoulder injury on the rugby field, which left Murray with a withered left arm.

Undergoing months of rehabilitation, the left-handed Murray had to teach himself to write and eat with his right hand, and it also forced a shift in sporting priorities.

“After ...