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Story: Amateurism and professionalism

John Walker in Fresh Up advertisement

'Fresh Up – it's got to be good for you'. This 1978 television commercial was certainly good for world-beating middle-distance runner John Walker's income. He won the 1,500 metres at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and soon afterwards signed to appear in this advertising campaign. Nominally still an amateur athlete, he later won another Commonwealth Games medal.

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New Zealand Film Archive Ngā Kaitiaki O Ngā Taonga Whitiāhua

Reference: C2461

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How to cite this page

Geoff Watson, Amateurism and professionalism – Rise of professionalism, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/38004/john-walker-in-fresh-up-advertisement (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Geoff Watson, published 22 November 2012.