Sir Brendan Foster celebrates 50th anniversary of his Gateshead 3,000m world record

On 3rd August 1974, Foster clocked a remarkable time of 7:35.2 to beat the record previously held by Emiel Puttemans to etch his name in the record books.  

With over 10,000 in attendance and a track laid just days beforehand at the Gateshead Internaitonal Stadium, the event marked a significant milestone in athletics both locally and internationally.  

Sir Brendan would go on to complete a remarkable 12 months by winning the European Championships in Rome that September, before being awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award later that year.

Click here to get NewcastleWorld’s latest headlines delivered to your inbox with our free email newsletters

At Gateshead Stadium on Friday, Foster said: “It brings back feelings when I’m standing here on the track, 50 years on from when I broke the world record here, and that world record then led to more major events here at Gateshead Stadium.

“I look back on the history of it all and the great British and world athletes that have appeared here - from Carl Lewis one of the great Olympians running with Linford Christie, to Mo Farah, Paula Radcliffe, Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, Steve Cram - we’ve had all the great runners running here, and 50 years on, I hope the future of the stadium will welcome great athletes back again.”