Athletics looks to raise the bar

Snell on his health, Bolt, Phelps, Lochte

New Zealand’s greatest Olympian, Peter Snell, is coming home to compete one last time.

Health permitting, Snell, 77, has confirmed to Fairfax Media he hopes to kill two birds with one stone on a trip back to New Zealand next year and compete in the World Masters Games in Auckland (April 21-30), as well as officially hand over the collection of his Olympic gold medals and memorabilia he is donating to the Te Papa national museum in Wellington.

‘‘It will be perfect timing to be able to do both. But that is going to be dependent on how the health holds up. I have my ups and downs,’’ Snell said from Dallas.

‘‘But that’s my ideal scenario. I don’t want to get expectations too high, and I’ll probably have to leave it as late as next year to decide finally.’’

However, for those hoping to catch one last glance of Snell gliding round the athletics track, there will be disappointment with the Kiwi sporting legend confirming he is no longer up to the demands of the pursuit in which he made his name.

‘‘I’m working hard on my table tennis,’’ he confirmed. ‘‘The two sports I can play – and that’s what it boils down to – are golf and table tennis. And I can’t play golf unless I’m able to ride in a cart. But table tennis is all right. Amongst my peer group I can handle that.’’

Snell, who won gold in the 800m at the 1960 Olympics in Rome and then followed that up by completing the 800-1500m double at the ‘64 Games in Tokyo, said his health at present, like his ping-pong, was on the improve.

‘‘I had a couple of days in hospital not too long ago and they put me on a new drug to help control my atrial fibrillation. It’s made quite a difference and I feel fortunate there are these medicines around now that are quite helpful.’’

Snell, meanwhile, has endorsed the claims of sprinting great Usain Bolt as the world’s greatest Olympian in the wake of the Rio Games. The Jamaican has won the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the last three Olympics, a feat which may never be repeated.

‘‘Swimming has always had a bucketful of medals, and I’ve always been quite cynical about that,’’ Snell added.

‘‘Michael Phelps highlights how ridiculous it is with all those events, and people who don’t know any better say he is the greatest just because of the 23 golds he’s won.

‘‘But I don’t know. Michael sure is fantastic, but for me Usain Bolt is the greatest with what he did. That is an amazing result, and just someone who is so totally and clearly dominant. His childish behaviour gets me a little bit but the talent is undoubtedly there.’’

Snell watched the Rio Games from go to whoa, and loved almost all of what he saw.

‘‘We have the idiot Ryan Lochte, otherwise it went off pretty smoothly. I hope it doesn’t become about his stupidity, but from what I saw it was outstanding.’’

Snell also revealed he had received a surprise call during the opening ceremony.

‘‘It was Nick Willis on the line. I said ‘Nick, aren’t you at the opening ceremony?’ He said no, he was back in Michigan with the other two Kiwi guys in the 1500m. We had a nice little chat about how to pull it off.’’

So, did the master proffer any prophetic advice to the eventual bronze medallist in the 1500m?

‘‘I said they were already doing the right thing by not showing up and risking picking something up that might impact their health. I just said one of the main things was not to be too overawed when you get into that Olympic stadium through the tunnel. It can shoot your anxiety levels through the roof.’’