Dr. Peter Snell, adjunct associate professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a three-time Olympic gold medalist for his native New Zealand, has won yet another honor - a knighthood in his homeland.
Dr. Snell returned to Wellington, the capital, in August and was honored as a knight of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
"It was a tremendous rewarding experience," Dr. Snell said of the event, the first of its kind in almost a decade. "It was certainly unique to have been part of that ceremony, and it's a pleasure to be honored in this way."
The chivalrous title is given "for those persons who in any field of endeavor, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."
While in New Zealand, Dr. Snell also traveled to the city of Wanganui for the unveiling of a bronze statue of his likeness, commemorating the site where, in 1962, Dr. Snell broke the world record in the one-mile run. The statue is based on a photograph of him crossing the finish line in the historic race. During his athletic career, Dr. Snell captured his first gold medal in Rome in 1960 with a record-setting victory in the 800-meter race. He then went on to the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo seizing the gold in the 800-meter race, once again, and in the 1,500-meter race.