Now he's a Politician, Lord Coe, and has achieved in other areas, it's easy to forget just how great an athelete he was. Thanks to TH-cam contributions we can remember probably Britains best athlete. Retaining the Olympic 1500 title is something we can't imagine repeating.
Incredible running a 348 mile and then going directly into a run without even taking a breather.. The best middle distance runner in the history of track and field
In fairness to the 'big O', he had the humility to apologize unequivocally for saying (prior to the 'Golden Mile' event in July 1979) that it would be a "hollow victory" for whoever won that race. Back in the summer of 1979, Ovett was still a young dude (23 years of age), and had an outstanding finishing kick. Had he competed in the 'Golden Mile' in the summer of 1979, he would have given Coe a real test ... but I seriously doubt whether he would have beaten him.
Sebastian (now Lord) Coe was never one to lack self-confidence. That said, I do not recall him ever claiming that, in his prime, he was capable of running 800 metres in less than 100 seconds (1:40.00). The dude who eventually breaks that (very elusive) athletics barrier will have to be a phenomenally talented athlete ... and, what is more, he will PROBABLY be a 'jumped up' 400 metres runner with the speed and power of a sprinter.
I know what its like to be fit you can race anyone and make it look easy, but the pain is the difficult part, to lift it hard when you sucking in huge volumes of oxygen and you can still go faster and take more pain when you unfit you cant even subject yourself to that pain, well these guys must have felt some pain in their lives.
Ovett turned down the chance to face Coe in this Mile in 79, saying that whoever won would have a "hollow victory" in his absence! I bet he felt a bit of an idiot while watching this race, with Coe not only running 3+ seconds faster than Ovett had run at that stage, but also breaking the world record whilst seemingly jogging and with no company at all over the last 600m! Nice one Steve!
I didn't know about Ovett's apology. Cool. Looking back at my previous comment 9 months ago, I think I was being a bit harsh on Ovett. I think in 79 it would have been v. Close between Coe and Ovett over a mile, although Coe had overtaken Ovett by some way at 800. Certainly Ovett was capable of 3:48 and faster in 79, though so was Coe. By the next year I think Coe had gained a slight advantage at 1500 despite Ovett's mile and & 1500 wr that year.
Now he's a Politician, Lord Coe, and has achieved in other areas, it's easy to forget just how great an athelete he was. Thanks to TH-cam contributions we can remember probably Britains best athlete. Retaining the Olympic 1500 title is something we can't imagine repeating.
Incredible running a 348 mile and then going directly into a run without even taking a breather.. The best middle distance runner in the history of track and field
In fairness to the 'big O', he had the humility to apologize unequivocally for saying (prior to the 'Golden Mile' event in July 1979) that it would be a "hollow victory" for whoever won that race.
Back in the summer of 1979, Ovett was still a young dude (23 years of age), and had an outstanding finishing kick. Had he competed in the 'Golden Mile' in the summer of 1979, he would have given Coe a real test ... but I seriously doubt whether he would have beaten him.
Sebastian (now Lord) Coe was never one to lack self-confidence. That said, I do not recall him ever claiming that, in his prime, he was capable of running 800 metres in less than 100 seconds (1:40.00).
The dude who eventually breaks that (very elusive) athletics barrier will have to be a phenomenally talented athlete ... and, what is more, he will PROBABLY be a 'jumped up' 400 metres runner with the speed and power of a sprinter.
I know what its like to be fit you can race anyone and make it look easy, but the pain is the difficult part, to lift it hard when you sucking in huge volumes of oxygen and you can still go faster and take more pain when you unfit you cant even subject yourself to that pain, well these guys must have felt some pain in their lives.
epo was very good to seb coe
Ovett turned down the chance to face Coe in this Mile in 79, saying that whoever won would have a "hollow victory" in his absence! I bet he felt a bit of an idiot while watching this race, with Coe not only running 3+ seconds faster than Ovett had run at that stage, but also breaking the world record whilst seemingly jogging and with no company at all over the last 600m! Nice one Steve!
I didn't know about Ovett's apology. Cool. Looking back at my previous comment 9 months ago, I think I was being a bit harsh on Ovett. I think in 79 it would have been v. Close between Coe and Ovett over a mile, although Coe had overtaken Ovett by some way at 800. Certainly Ovett was capable of 3:48 and faster in 79, though so was Coe. By the next year I think Coe had gained a slight advantage at 1500 despite Ovett's mile and & 1500 wr that year.