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Sporting Witness: Ron Clarke's Heart Stops at the Mexico Olympics

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Ron Clarke collapses at Mexico Olympics

16/12/2011 GMT

Ron Clarke's Heart Stops at the Mexico Olympics

BBC World Service - Sporting Witness, Ron Clarke's Heart Stops at the Mexico Olympics

Altitude sickness caused 10,000m race favourite to collapse at the finishing line in 1968

How Australian 10,000 metre runner Ron Clarke collapsed from altitude sickness at the Mexico Olympics in 1968.

At the 1968 Mexico Olympics, the world looked on in horror as the Australian runner, Ron Clarke the race favourite, collapsed at the finishing line of the 10,000 metres. His heart had stopped. 

The Australian team doctor, Brian Corrigan, ran to him and managed to get his heart started again. 

Clarke had run out of oxygen because of the high altitude in Mexico City.

Sporting Witness speaks to Ron Clarke and Brian Corrigan.

This programme broadcast in December 2011. 

Picture: Ron Clarke, in second place, shortly before his collapse. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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