John William Savidan (23 May 1902 – 8 November 1991) nicknamed "Billy", "Bill" or "Jack" was a New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 long distance runner from 1926.

He was born in Auckland

Auckland

The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...

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At the 1930 British Empire Games

New Zealand at the 1930 British Empire Games

New Zealand sent a team of 22 competitors and 3 officials to the 1930 British Empire Games, which were held in Hamilton, Ontario. The flagbearer at the opening ceremony was Stan Lay....

 in Hamilton, Ontario he won the six mile race despite stopping over the finish line after what he thought was the last lap, and being told that there was a lap to go, as the official had inadvertently turned over two discs instead of one. He beat Ernie Harper from England. In the three mile race (equivalent to 5000 meters) he did not finish.

At the 1932 Summer Olympics

New Zealand at the 1932 Summer Olympics

New Zealand competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States. The team of 21 was New Zealand's largest to date and comprised 11 rowers, 6 athletes, 3 boxers and 1 cyclist...

 at Los Angeles he finished fourth in both the 5000 metre event

Athletics at the 1932 Summer Olympics - Men's 5000 metres

The men's 5000 metres event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1932 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Tuesday, August 2, 1932 and on Friday, August 5, 1932.-Records:...

 and the 10000 metre competition.

He did not compete in the national championships in 1935 and 1936 as he was working as a stonemason and could not spend the necessary time training, but competed against two Japanese runners who were visiting New Zealand in 1937. Like Malcolm Champion

Malcolm Champion

Malcolm Eadie Champion was New Zealand's first Olympic gold medallist, and the first swimmer to represent New Zealand at an Olympic Games...

 before him he was then for some years Custodian at Auckland’s Tepid Baths

Tepid Baths

The Tepid Baths are historical indoor public pools in Auckland, New Zealand. Built in 1914 on the previous site of a small drydock, it quickly met great public approval, with 30,000 visitors in the first two months...

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