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Tait counted among his friends and teammates the likes of Mr. Longboat, Alfred Shrubb and Bobby Kerr, journalists Doug Laurie and Lou Marsh, and the great American middle distance stars Abel Kiviat, George Bonhag and Mel Shepherd.

Kiviat remained the world's oldest living Olympic medallist through the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

Astonishingly, after more than 60 years passed since they last saw each other, Kiviat paid tribute to his great friendship and rivalry with Tait during a televised interview with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show.