Snell confirms gifts for Te Papa

Sir Peter Snell is donating a treasure trove of sporting memorabilia from his personal collection to Te Papa, including two of his three Olympic gold medals.

As well as Snell’s 800m golds from the 1960 Rome Olympics and the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the 78-year-old sporting legend is also gifting his two Commonwealth Games golds, both won at Perth in 1962.

Perhaps the most unusual item to be donated is the right shoe he wore while winning gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Made for him by running coach Arthur Lydiard, it bears Lydiard’s signature along the side.

Other items include Snell’s insignia of the Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order Of Merit, awarded to him in 2002, his OBE, awarded in 1962, a tankard he was presented with for breaking the world mile record, also in 1962, and an Olympic torch from the Sydney 2000 Games.

Following a private powhiri for Snell, his wife, two daughters and two granddaughters at Te Papa’s marae on April 18, a special display will be opened at the museum, featuring his two Olympic gold medals and the shoe made by Lydiard.

These three items will be on show at Te Papa from April 18 until July 23, and all 14 of the items Snell is gifting will be part of New Zealand’s national history collection in perpetuity.

Te Papa chief executive Rick Ellis says the museum is humbled by Snell’s donation. ‘‘Te Papa is incredibly excited to receive these pieces of our sporting history, and be able to share them with New Zealanders,’’ says Ellis.

Te Papa history curator Stephanie Gibson says the items are incredibly significant for New Zealand.

‘‘These objects represent not only the pinnacle of Sir Peter’s career, but the absolute pinnacle of New Zealand’s sporting history,’’ says Gibson.

In June 2016 Te Papa bid at auction for a singlet thought to be that worn by Snell at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964. The singlet was withdrawn from sale by the auction house after the museum raised doubts about its authenticity.