The statue overlooks the finishing line where Snell broke the world mile record in January 1962, running a time of 3min 54.4sec.

 

 

He said: "To have a statue of yourself commemorating what was very meaningful for me, and I just love it that Wanganui feels the same way about it for them too."

 

The creators of the NZ$90,000 (£37,000) life-size statue, Chris Elliot and Ross Wilson, modelled the work on a photograph of Sir Peter crossing the finish line in the historic race.

Sir Peter, 70, who has lived in the United States since 1971, was New Zealand's greatest-ever athlete.
 

Among his crowning achievements were his Olympic 800 metres triumph in Rome in 1960, and gold medals for both the 800m and 1500m events in Toyko four years later.

Yesterday he took part in a ceremony in Wellington that changed the New Zealand honours he received from the previous Labour Government to a traditional knighthood.

 

Also watching the unveiling of the statue was fellow 1962 competitor, Australian Albie Thomas, who came third in the race.

 

Thomas said: "This one here is put up while he is alive and that's sensational.

 

"It's also an inspiration to all young Wanganui athletes -- Peter can do it, why can't I?"

 

Snell's Wanganui time stood as the world record for nearly three years until he broke it himself, running 3:54.04 in Auckland in November 1964.