Career
He broke the world record for the men"s marathon four times in the 1950s. Later that same year Peters set the first sub-2:20 clocking on an out-and-back course, at the Enschede Marathon, the Netherlands. After covering just 200 metres in 11 minutes, he was stretchered away and never raced again.
"I was lucky not to have died that day", he later said.
His Games kit, including plimsolls and the special medal which following the games the Duke of Edinburgh sent to Jim inscribed "To a most gallant marathon runner." were given to The Sports Hall of Fame, Vancouver in 1967 for exhibition. He served as president of the then recently formed Road Runners Club from 1955 - 1956.
After retiring from competitive athletics, Peters worked as an optician in Mitcham, Surrey, and Chadwell Heath, Essex.