Former Star Marathoner Dies

British runner Jim Peters, who broke the world marathon record four times in the 1950s died Jan. 9, according to news reports. He was 80.

It was Peters’ collapse in the 1954 Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, that evokes the most dramatic images, coming after he entered the stadium at the end of the marathon with an astonishing 3-mile lead over the rest of the field.

After setting his usual fast pace, despite the humidity and warm temperatures, Peters, who was 35, was suffering from severe dehydration and began to stagger. He then fell more than half a dozen times, even crawling on all fours as he tried but failed to complete the last lap on the track.