Walker: no money, no job

Press, 7 September 1981, Page 19

Walker: no money, no job

NZPA Rome New Zealand's greatest runner of the last five years, John Walker, said at the week-end that he had no job and no money.v Walker was speaking to reporters after. finishing second to Britain’s Steve Ovett in the World Cup 1500 metres race in Rome. The 1976 Olympic champion and former world record-holder said that business problems since he moved to the United States had affected his running this year. “Lots of things have gone wrong,” he said. Asked to elaborate, Walker said: “We moved to the United States and the company I was supposed to work for has had bad liquidity problems and I virtually lost my job. “This means I have no security for the next three years.

“They (the company) are on the verge of either being taken over or declaring bankruptcy,” Walker said.

“So that’s been a very, very big worry to me over the last three months and it hasn't really helped my running.” Walker was then asked if the relaxation by the International Amateur Athletics Federation over sponsorship would help his financial situation. He said: “Sponsorship in New Zealand really doesn’t mean all that much because we've been doing what the I.A.A.F. approved two days ago, for the last three years. “I think the fact that New Zealand took the step three years ago really helped the decision of the I.A.A.F. anyway- because I’d spoken to our members of the I.A.A.F. council beforehand,” Walker said.