This is why I will always love Ovett. Never saw Coe do anything so generous, ever. Kevin Steer is one of those athletes I'll always treasure for taking it on, just like Alan Mottershead and Tony Simmonds.
The only reason the press portrayed Ovett as the bad guy is because he hardly talked to them, and that was a decision Steve was perfectly entitled to make. Seb Coe was a magnificent athlete and ambassador, but Steve was the one who had the human touch. Countless examples of Steve's modesty and humility, and raising the arm of the brave pacemaker at the finish was typical of his sportsmanship. I was always massively behind Steve in his duel with Seb, but whoever won, they both did us proud.
I miss having these events at Crystal palace and with improved links by rail with the stadium a stone's throw from it. I use to stand at the balcony above the indoor track watching , it's a shame they hadn't used it as much
Coe never did anything generous in athletics full stop - but we look back at their feats on the track - not their moral worth. Ovett's moving into the outside lane in that semi was a questionable gesture of arrogance - though the crowd loved it.
Stuart :- Agreed. Ovett was an arrogant man. Always moaning or crying about one thing or another especially if things didn't go his way. Phenomenal athlete though in his own right despite being overshadowed by the majestic Sebastian Coe.
Strange thing to do in a qualifying heat. Even stranger when you consider he was never Olympic or World Champion at the distance. Yes, one the greats but certainly not unbeatable. If you take out the luck he had in the 800m in Moscow where major talent was absent and Coe ran a shocker he could easily have zero Olympic titles.
@@SirPeter6464 sorry but ovett was not lucky he was the best man on the day. People say coe froze but that's his problem. Ovett was not 100% in the 1500m final physically or mentally having been on a comedown from the 800m victory. Coe was beaten 10 days after winning the Moscow 1500m in a 800m race by Don paige of America. Paige never broke 1.44 in his career,coe was suffering a comedown similar to what ovett suffered in the 1500m final. Had the 1500m been first or even if it had been the only race between ovett and coe in the Olympics ovett would of won. There is more to running than just being fast just as there is more to football than having the most possession it's about putting the ball in the back of the net. Ovett to me after winning the 800m had achieved what he wanted to achieve and was not the same for the 1500m. Coe has confessed that had he been beaten in the 1500m he would of retired this is a very brave and honest confession. Ovett was the outstanding talent of his generation.
Watch Ovett at the end. He goes over to the guy who tried to run away and raises his arm. That showed the true nature of Ovett
I was in that heat, plodding along at the back. Amazing to experience Ovett's kick almost close up.
Chasing a Porsche in a mini metro. Hard not to take it personally.
As I recall that was when you were very young and at a distance far below your best...
@@SirPeter6464 Being a mini metro never got you into the AAA 1500.....
Adrian Royle was hardly a Mini Metro having run 10,000m in 27:47 and 5000m in 13:26!
@@SirPeter6464 Like it 🤣🤣
This is why I will always love Ovett. Never saw Coe do anything so generous, ever. Kevin Steer is one of those athletes I'll always treasure for taking it on, just like Alan Mottershead and Tony Simmonds.
The only reason the press portrayed Ovett as the bad guy is because he hardly talked to them, and that was a decision Steve was perfectly entitled to make. Seb Coe was a magnificent athlete and ambassador, but Steve was the one who had the human touch. Countless examples of Steve's modesty and humility, and raising the arm of the brave pacemaker at the finish was typical of his sportsmanship. I was always massively behind Steve in his duel with Seb, but whoever won, they both did us proud.
Love the confidence!
Now you know where steeplechaser Kemboi got his finishing in lane 8 tactics from!!
I miss having these events at Crystal palace and with improved links by rail with the stadium a stone's throw from it. I use to stand at the balcony above the indoor track watching , it's a shame they hadn't used it as much
Ah, the 70s man, short shorts and high socks! Man had style.
The Best Super Steve
Forever Sir Ovett...
It was the "Three As", not Triple As.
lacked confidence
Coe never did anything generous in athletics full stop - but we look back at their feats on the track - not their moral worth. Ovett's moving into the outside lane in that semi was a questionable gesture of arrogance - though the crowd loved it.
Stuart entertaining the crowd the sport could do with more characters like ovett nowadays
Stuart :- Agreed. Ovett was an arrogant man. Always moaning or crying about one thing or another especially if things didn't go his way. Phenomenal athlete though in his own right despite being overshadowed by the majestic Sebastian Coe.
Strange thing to do in a qualifying heat. Even stranger when you consider he was never Olympic or World Champion at the distance. Yes, one the greats but certainly not unbeatable. If you take out the luck he had in the 800m in Moscow where major talent was absent and Coe ran a shocker he could easily have zero Olympic titles.
@@SirPeter6464 sorry but ovett was not lucky he was the best man on the day. People say coe froze but that's his problem. Ovett was not 100% in the 1500m final physically or mentally having been on a comedown from the 800m victory. Coe was beaten 10 days after winning the Moscow 1500m in a 800m race by Don paige of America. Paige never broke 1.44 in his career,coe was suffering a comedown similar to what ovett suffered in the 1500m final. Had the 1500m been first or even if it had been the only race between ovett and coe in the Olympics ovett would of won. There is more to running than just being fast just as there is more to football than having the most possession it's about putting the ball in the back of the net. Ovett to me after winning the 800m had achieved what he wanted to achieve and was not the same for the 1500m. Coe has confessed that had he been beaten in the 1500m he would of retired this is a very brave and honest confession. Ovett was the outstanding talent of his generation.
Agreed.