View source for Dick Quax

{{Short description|New Zealand athlete (1948–2018)}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| honorific_prefix =
| name             = 
| honorific_suffix =
| image            = Dick Quax (1977).jpg
| image_size       = <!-- Use only when absolutely necessary -->
| alt              = 
| caption          = Quax in 1977
| fullname         = Theodorus Jacobus Leonardus Quax
| citizenship      = New Zealand
| birth_date       = {{Birth date|1948|01|01|df=y}}
| birth_place      = [[Alkmaar]], Netherlands
| death_date       = {{Death date and age|2018|05|28|1948|01|01|df=yes}}
| death_place      = [[Auckland]], New Zealand
| coach            = [[John Davies (middle-distance runner)|John Davies]]
| pb               = 5,000 m – 13:12.87<br />10,000 m – 27:41.95<br />Marathon – 2:10:47
| nationals        = 1 mile champion (1969)<br />5000 m champion (1972, 1973, 1974)
| <!-- Medal record -->
| medaltemplates   = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Sport of athletics|athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{NZL}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Montreal]]|[[Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|5000 metres]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver  | [[1970 British Commonwealth Games|1970 Edinburgh]] | 1500 metres}}
| show-medals      = yes
}}

'''Theodorus Jacobus Leonardus''' "'''Dick'''" '''Quax''' (1 January 1948 – 28 May 2018) was a [[Netherlands|Dutch]]-born New Zealand [[Running|runner]], one-time [[List of world records in athletics|world record]] holder in the [[5000 metres]], and local-body [[politician]].

Quax stood for [[New Zealand Parliament|Parliament]] for the [[ACT New Zealand|ACT Party]] in 1999 and 2002. He was a [[Manukau City]] [[councillor]] from 2001 to 2007, when he stood unsuccessfully for [[mayor]], and was a councillor on the [[Auckland Council]] from 2011 until his death in 2018.

== Athletic career ==
Quax won four New Zealand national athletics titles: the 5000 m in 1972, 1973, and 1974; and the one mile in 1969.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.anzrankings.org.nz/userfiles/file/National_Champions.pdf |title=National champions 1887–2016 |date=December 2016 |website=anzrankings.org.nz |publisher=Athletics New Zealand |access-date=28 May 2018 |first=Stephen |last=Hollings}}</ref>

At the [[1970 British Commonwealth Games]], Quax won the [[silver medal]] in the [[1500 metres]]. In the 5000 m, at the [[1972 Summer Olympics]] he was eliminated in the heats, but he won silver in [[1976 Summer Olympics|1976]].<ref name="AthleticsNZ">{{cite web |url=https://olympic.org.nz/athletes/dick-quax |title=Dick Quax |website=Olympic.org.nz |publisher=[[New Zealand Olympic Committee]] |date=31 July 2014 |access-date=16 January 2016 |archive-date=23 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123014902/http://www.olympic.org.nz/nzolympic/athlete/dick-quax |url-status=live }}</ref> He did not compete in [[1980 Summer Olympics|1980]] in [[Moscow]] due to [[1980 Summer Olympics boycott|the West's boycott]].<ref name="AthleticsNZ"/>

In 1977 at [[Stockholm]] Quax set a world record of 13:12.9 in the 5000 m. This record stood for less than a year, but as a national record it stood for over 31 years, until beaten by [[Adrian Blincoe]] in July 2008.<ref name="AthleticsNZ2">{{cite web |url=http://www.athletics.org.nz/Article.aspx?ID=3779 |title=Adrian Blincoe Breaks Dick Quax's 31 Year Old 5000m Record |website=athletics.org.nz |date=21 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014093736/http://www.athletics.org.nz/Article.aspx?ID=3779 |archive-date=14 October 2008}}</ref>

Early in 1980 at [[Stanford Stadium]] Quax missed [[Jos Hermens]]' 15&nbsp;km world record by five seconds, running a New Zealand national record of 43:01.7.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dick Quax Profile |url=http://www.racingpast.ca/john_contents.php?id=286 |website=RacingPast.ca |access-date=1 June 2018}}</ref> In his later career Quax switched his focus to the [[marathon]], running 2:11.13 in his debut for 4th place at the [[Nike OTC Marathon]] in 1979, at that time the fastest debut marathon in history.<ref name="Hardloopnieuws">{{cite web |title=Atleet Dick Quax overleden (video) |url=https://www.hardloopnieuws.nl/atleet-dick-quax-overleden-video/ |website=Hardloopnieuws.no |date=28 May 2018 |language=nl |access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref> In 1980 he returned and won the race in a New Zealand record time of 2:10.47.<ref>{{cite news |title=RESULTS OF 1980 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1980/12/28/results-of-1980/0f819117-14c9-40d4-9120-c2b031fb1ff1/ |access-date=May 30, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=December 28, 1980}}</ref> After retiring from competition, Quax established a career in sports management.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/obituary-dick-quax-olympic-medallist-and-auckland-politician-dies-aged-70 |title=Obituary: Dick Quax, Olympic medallist and Auckland politician, dies aged 70 |website=TVNZ.co.nz |access-date=2018-05-31 |language=en-NZ |quote=After [Quax's] running days were over, a stint in sports management led to a career in local body politics.}}</ref>  He also coached his son, Theo,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.collegesportmedia.co.nz/athleticsxc/-like-father-like-son-theo-quax-smashes-personal-best-in-national-1500m-win |title=Like father, like son: Theo Quax smashes personal best in national 1500m win |website=CollegeSportMedia.co.nz |date=14 March 2016 |access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref> the New Zealand U18<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.athletics.org.nz/Portals/24/Files/Events/TandF/2016%20nztf%20full%20results.pdf |title=2016 Lion Foundation NZ Track and Field Champs – Results |website=Athletics.org.nz |access-date=25 March 2018 |archive-date=8 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708105852/http://www.athletics.org.nz/Portals/24/Files/Events/TandF/2016%20nztf%20full%20results.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and U20 Champion <ref>{{cite web |title=NZ Track and Field Champs 2017 – Results |website=athletics.org.nz |url=http://www.athletics.org.nz/Portals/24/Files/Events/TandF/nztf2017%20full%20results.pdf |access-date=25 March 2018 |archive-date=10 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310062033/http://www.athletics.org.nz/Portals/24/Files/Events/TandF/nztf2017%20full%20results.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> for 1500 m.

=== Personal bests ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!''Distance''||''Time''||''Place''||''Date''
|-
|'''5000 m'''||13:12.87 || Stockholm|| 1977
|-
|'''10000 m'''||27:41.95 || London || 1977<ref>{{cite web |title=Olympic medallist Dick Quax passes away |url=http://www.sportzhub.com/article/olympic-medallist-dick-quax-passes-away.html |website=SportzHub.com |access-date=30 May 2018 |date=28 May 2018}}</ref>
|}

== Political career ==
Quax was a member of the ACT Party and stood in the {{NZ election link|1999}} in the {{NZ electorate link|Pakuranga}} electorate but was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1999/e9/html/cand_38.html |title=Candidate vote details – Pakuranga |website=ElectionResults.govt.nz |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |access-date=8 April 2017}}</ref> He was ranked 11th on the ACT [[Party lists in the New Zealand general election, 1999#ACT New Zealand|party list]], which was too low to be elected from the list, as only the first 9 candidates got returned.<ref>{{cite web |title=Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties |url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1999/e9/html/e9_partIII_1.html |website=ElectionResults.govt.nz |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |access-date=8 April 2017}}</ref> He stood again in the [[2002 New Zealand general election|2002 general election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Olympic medallist, councillor Dick Quax dies aged 70 |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12059945 |access-date=30 May 2018 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=28 May 2018 |quote=He stood for Parliament for Act in 1999 and 2002. In 2007 he was beaten by Len Brown for the Manukau mayoralty.}}</ref>

In October 2001 Quax was elected to the [[Manukau City Council]] for the [[Pakuranga]] ward and was re-elected in 2004 to represent the new Botany-Clevedon ward after a failed bid for the Manukau City mayoralty. On 13 October 2007 Quax lost his bid to become [[mayor of Manukau City]] to [[Len Brown]] by 14,000 votes.<ref name="NZ_Herald_10469695">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/event/story.cfm?c_id=1501264&objectid=10469695 |title=New faces aplenty in local government shake-ups |last=Gay |first=Edward |date=13 October 2007 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=28 September 2011}}</ref>

During this election, Quax complained to the electoral office over an "offensive flyer" depicting him and members of his People's Choice party as the ''[[Thunderbirds (TV series)|Thunderbirds]]''. His complaint was not upheld as there was no evidence to suggest who had posted the flyers.<ref name="Hardloopnieuws"/>
{{AC header}}
{{Auckland Council|affiliation=[[Citizens & Ratepayers]]|colour={{party color|Communities & Residents}}|ward=[[Howick ward|Howick]]|start=2011|end=13}}
{{Auckland Council|affiliation=Independent|ward=Howick|start=[[2013 Auckland local elections|2013]]|end=16}}
{{Auckland Council|affiliation=Independent|ward=Howick|start=[[2016 Auckland local elections|2016]]|end=18}}
{{end}}
Quax stood for [[Citizens & Ratepayers]] in the [[2010 Auckland local elections|2010 Auckland Council elections]], losing to [[Jami-Lee Ross]] by 253 votes. In 2011 Quax was elected to the [[Auckland Council|council]] after [[List of by-elections to the Auckland Council#2011 by-election, Howick ward|a by-election]] was held in Howick due to Ross resigning after becoming a [[Member of parliament|Member of Parliament]].<ref name="Stuff.co.nz_5066025">{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/5066025/Quax-wins-Howick-by-election |title=Quax wins Howick by-election |date=27 May 2011 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |access-date=28 September 2011}}</ref> He was re-elected unopposed in [[2013 Auckland local elections|2013]].

During the 2013 Len Brown mayoral scandal, Quax took the opportunity for political payback against Brown, leading the call for him to resign for not declaring hotel upgrades as gifts. It emerged that Quax had also not filed returns on the gifts he had received during the previous term.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2580634/auckland-mayor-len-brown-censured-in-council-meeting |title=Auckland Mayor Len Brown censured in council meeting &#124; Morning Report, 7:18 am on 20 December 2013 |publisher=[[Radio NZ]] |date=20 December 2013 |access-date=13 May 2015}}</ref>

Quax was re-elected in the [[2016 Auckland local elections|2016 Auckland elections]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/HowCouncilWorks/Elections/Documents/Confirmedlocalelectionresults2016.pdf |title=Issue: Mayor (1) – Auckland Council – Final Results |website=AucklandCouncil.govt.nz |date=13 October 2016 |access-date=15 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019000339/http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/HowCouncilWorks/Elections/Documents/Confirmedlocalelectionresults2016.pdf |archive-date=19 October 2016 |df=dmy}}</ref>

In his tenure as councilor, he opposed high density housing<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ |title=Dick Quax: High density urban housing never been embraced |last=Quax |first=Dick |date=12 March 2013 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=26 October 2017 |language=en-NZ |issn=1170-0777}}</ref> and public transportation,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/DickQuax/status/551281008100638721 |title=@lukechristensen @BenRoss_AKL @Brycepearce no one in the entire western world uses the train for their shopping trips |last=Quax |first=Dick |date=<!--11:36 PM - -->2 January 2015 |website=@DickQuax |language=en |access-date=26 October 2017}}</ref> and supported selling Auckland's council-owned water and wastewater supplier [[Watercare Services]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11883102 |title=Dick Quax: Auckland Council should sell some of Watercare to sovereign funds |last=Quax |first=Dick |date=28 June 2017 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=26 October 2017 |language=en-NZ |issn=1170-0777}}</ref> While originally opposing the council's proposed Unitary Plan, Quax later supported the plan in full.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/auckland/10-08-2016/what-the-hell-just-happened-at-the-unitary-plan-hearings/ |title=What the hell just happened at the Unitary Plan hearings? |date=10 August 2016 |work=[[The Spinoff]] |access-date=26 October 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref> Quax was described by ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'' as "right wing".<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11857607 |title=Phil Goff: Splitting port company from the land makes sense but will be Council's call in 20 years |last=Orsman |first=Bernard |date=17 May 2017 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |quote=Right-wing councillor Dick Quax said he would be comfortable...}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Quax and his family arrived in New Zealand from the Netherlands on 10 October 1954.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dick Quax's funeral today in Parnell, Auckland |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12063444 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=2 June 2018 |date=2 June 2018}}</ref> According to an interview in the ''[[New Zealand Listener]]'' the family had travelled on the same ship as future [[Race Relations Commissioner]] Joris de Bres.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.debres.co.nz/boatpeople.htm |title=The Boat People |author=Joris de Bres |date=1997 |publisher=Debres.co.nz |access-date=13 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113022223/http://debres.co.nz/boatpeople.htm |archive-date=13 January 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Quax became a [[Naturalization|naturalised]] New Zealander in 1969.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://search.ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=try&db=NZNaturalisations&h=93952 |title=New Zealand, naturalisations, 1843–1981 |year=2010 |publisher=Ancestry.com Operations |access-date=13 May 2015 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Quax married three times, his third marriage being to Roxanne in August 1991.<ref name=NZH2>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10735816 |title=Michele Hewitson Interview: Dick Quax |date=2 July 2011 |access-date=26 November 2013 |first=Michelle |last=Hewitson |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] }}</ref> He had three children, with Theo being on the [[Northern Arizona Lumberjacks cross country|NAU Lumberjacks cross country]] team.<ref name="AthleticsNZ"/>

=== "Quaxing" ===
{{main article|Quaxing}}
Quax tweeted<ref name="quaxing">{{cite web |url=http://bythemotorway.be/post/118344566868/what-in-the-world-is-quaxing |title=By the Motorway – What in the world is #quaxing? |publisher=Bythemotorway.be |date=7 May 2015 |access-date=13 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511013651/http://bythemotorway.be/post/118344566868/what-in-the-world-is-quaxing |archive-date=11 May 2015}}</ref> in January 2015 about his disbelief that anyone in the Western world would go shopping by means of "walking, [[cycling]], or [[Public transport|public transit]]." [[Twitter]] users responded by creating the [[hashtag]] "#quaxing".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnston |first1=Kirsty |title='Quaxing' becomes byword in verbal battle over bike |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11447071 |access-date=12 May 2015 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=12 May 2015}}</ref> The Public Address website voted "quaxing" as its word of the year 2015, followed by "[[Red Peak flag|Red Peak]]" and "twitterati".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ferguson |first1=Susie |title=The Word of The Year: "Quaxing" |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201783641/the-word-of-the-year-quaxing |access-date=21 December 2015 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=21 December 2015}}</ref>

{{blockquote|Quax, [verb; past: quaxed, present: quaxing] — to shop, in the western world, by means of walking, cycling or public transit. #quaxing|source=Non-motorist (@ByTheMotorway), 26 April 2015<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/ByTheMotorway/status/592156105658118144 |title=Non-motorist on Twitter: "Quax, [verb; past: quaxed, present: quaxing&#93; — to shop, in the western world, by means of walking, cycling or public transit. #quaxing" |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=13 May 2015}}</ref>}}

== Illness and death ==
It was revealed on 27 November 2013 that Quax had been undergoing treatment for throat cancer, which had been diagnosed two months earlier.<ref name=NZH1>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11163292 |title=Olympian battling throat cancer |publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=13 May 2015}}</ref>

Quax died of cancer in Auckland on 28 May 2018, aged 70.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/104258283/new-zealand-running-great-dick-quax-dies-aged-70-after-long-battle-with-cancer |title=New Zealand running great Dick Quax dies, aged 70, after long battle with cancer |date=28 May 2018 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |access-date=28 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/sport/358308/nz-running-legend-dick-quax-dies |title=NZ running legend Dick Quax dies |date=27 May 2018 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |access-date=28 May 2018 |language=en-nz}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{sports links}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|BEL}} [[Emiel Puttemans]] |title=[[5000 metres#World record progression|Men's 5000m World record holder]]|years=5 July 1977 – 8 April 1978 |after={{flagicon|KEN}} [[Henry Rono]]}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|BEL}} [[Emiel Puttemans]]|title=[[5000 metres#Men's seasons best (outdoor track)|Men's 5000m best year performance]]|years=1976–1977|after={{flagicon|KEN}} [[Henry Rono]]}}
|-
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{s-bef | before = [[John Walker (runner)|John Walker]]}}
{{s-ttl | title  = [[Lonsdale Cup (NZOC)|Lonsdale Cup]] of the [[New Zealand Olympic Committee]] | years=1976}}
{{s-aft | after  = [[Rebecca Perrott]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{1970 New Zealand British Commonwealth Games team}}
{{1972 New Zealand Olympic team}}
{{1976 New Zealand Olympic team}}
{{1978 New Zealand Commonwealth Games team}}
{{Footer New Zealand NC 1500 m men}}
{{Footer New Zealand NC 5000 m men}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Quax, Dick}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:Dutch emigrants to New Zealand]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for New Zealand]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for New Zealand]]
[[Category:New Zealand male middle-distance runners]]
[[Category:New Zealand male long-distance runners]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1976 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1978 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for New Zealand]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Alkmaar]]
[[Category:Athletes from North Holland]]
[[Category:New Zealand sportsperson-politicians]]
[[Category:ACT New Zealand politicians]]
[[Category:Auckland Councillors]]
[[Category:Manukau City Councillors]]
[[Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1999 New Zealand general election]]
[[Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2002 New Zealand general election]]
[[Category:People educated at Hamilton Boys' High School]]
[[Category:Deaths from throat cancer in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1976 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand politicians]]
[[Category:New Zealand male cross country runners]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:New Zealand Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:20th-century New Zealand sportsmen]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in athletics]]