16 days of glory - Coe and Ovett 1500m

[runnerdude1990]

Did anyone else notice that they played "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" after a British man won the race?

[KenfromDublin]

Coe's bizarre behaviour after he crossed the line is omitted from this footage, an unconvincing excuse for it is offered by Coe instead.

It was a display of wild eyed, finger waving aggression, which is completely at odds with the calm and docile man we are all familiar with.

I believe it was the result of steroid abuse, which heightens aggressive tendencies in the abuser, but a price he was prepared to pay to win/cheat.

[Bullitt54321]

@KenfromDublin. I don't think it was due to Steroids...I think it was because Coe had taken an almighty and relentless slagging from the British tabloid press after his Silver medal in the 800 metres, calling him (amongst other things) a 'has been' and 'washed up' (the polite words!)

[KenfromDublin]

@Bullitt54321 Hmmm... perhaps, but his long standing 800 meter world record time still stands as a superhuman achievement, especially given how long it took to be broken.

[Bullitt54321]

@KenfromDublin. Agree with you 100% 1:41.73 on 10th June 1981 was an amazing time - took 16 years for it to be equalled by Kipketer.

[Bertleach999]

@PONYBOY430

Who the fuck are you? You must be mentally deranged to continually only mention that Scott bloke and Canada!!

Tell us who the fuck you are, or fuck off and get a life. BTW, unless you are this mike Scott bloke, could you stop glorifying him and make your own achievements?

[vymmas]

It would have been funny if Coe had given Ovett the finger as he passed him on the stretcher.

[linglingjr]

tht was cool

[linglingjr]

@PONYBOY430 really tht has nuttin to do with this but i agree

[63frankie]

Coe was, and still is a pratt. Ovett was, and is a real person.

[Tehui1974]

Sebastian Coe.....what an athlete. He is rare for a pom, he knew how to WIN.

[formerKGBchief]

@Tehui1974 check out the final medals table of the beijing olympics sometime m8 :))

[vicdeakin]

6-2 in the Broads' European Championship. Methinks he's right.

[wayzotoichi]

That's just Bryson's perspective. Brits are quite varied in their attitudes. Indeed some optimistically expect victories, despite repeated poor preparation in the crucial area of penalties.)..hope triumphing in the face of experience! 1990 onwards, ability during play wasn't as important as failing to practice penalties.Often British people don't LIKE to see their compatriots winning, it's not just the tabloids, that's another strong feature of the British (the opposite of vicarious pleasures).

[wayzotoichi]

Now, although England boast world class talent, I think as others do, they haven't been motivated like other teams (partly due to massive financial rewards at their clubs). Results to 2008 speak for that. Poor tactics seemed to come together with poor motivation, despite 'X years of hurt', I think Capello can change that, if you look at his style since he won with Milan in 1994, he's not a 'thinker', and doesn't suffer politics from journalists or players his approach is performance-orientated.

[wayzotoichi]

Yeah I hope 2010 might be different, colder climate, bogey teams like Portugal and Argentina are weak (possibly not qualifying!)..but '66 was a long, long, time ago. Not counting the game between the poor group losers in Euro 2000, since 1970 there's been something about the German World Cup mentality that English teams have lacked. 2001's game was for a World Cup we wouldn't reach the semis...and guess which 'teutonic' team got to the final, with their less flashy names?

[wayzotoichi]

Ovett's stride at full gallop = poetry in motion. Coe was a beast of a competitor. I see him beating anyone today with current athletic training and technology..look how quickly the mile record fell after Bannister.

[odysseyintime]

ovett was never really the same after the church railings incident. by the LA olympics, the rivalry wasnt as intense as it had been before

[ynotlleb]

Well Ovett hit the railings in 1982 and broke the WR in 1983. Coe was ill in 1982-3 and went on to win the Olympics again. If Ovett hadn't been ill in LA it could have been Moscow all over again.

[odysseyintime]

not neccessarily.

ovetts fastest 800m was 1:44.1 mins he wouldnt have been able to match Cruz's speed.

[deano27671]

If Ovett had been in top form in LA he would certainly have medalled in the 1500m but I don't think he had the necessary basic speed anymore to get a medal in the 800m.

[martynhanson]

Ovett was not a 'bitter sod' as someone put it below. I wonder just how much some people know about this period.

In fact, more crap is written about the Ovett/Coe/Cram than any other.

If Coe had felt like Ovett he would not have won - simple as that.

[wayzotoichi]

yep - Ovett perhaps didn't 'back himself', in the psychobabble of today, enough.

I think Seb Coe was better at backing himself, his personality was more of a 'type A' selfishly striving to beat someone like it meant the universe to him, (the essence of that Teutonic grit our football teams always succumb to?)more than Ovett did.

[jegspillerpiano]

@wayzotoichi You're quite right, which is why Coe was never popular with the british press. When he went thorugh a bad time they merely got on his back, instead of having faith that he would peak for the big event. 'They almost unanimously disapproved his selection for LA' - ha, assholes! Coe singled-handled showed up the British loser-mentality, and his achievements embarrass them all still, especially the vacuous British youth of today who never much as lace a pair of running shoes!

[Ironbarzeus75]

I remember Ovett at the time was a right bitter sod, I am guessing that was him being stretchered off

[gpc31]

Thank you, thank you. Bud Greenspan made the best documentaries.

Coe was so relaxed throughout the entire race.

The juxtaposition of the triumphant Coe and stretcher-bound Ovett at the end is almost unbearably poignant.

[vicdeakin]

Great stuff - Brings me back.

[syrett76]

Where have all the great english middle distance runners gone? Thanks for posting.

[ynotlleb]

Glad you enjoyed it, watch out for Andy Baddeley in Beijing.

[wayzotoichi]

yeah I'm rooting for Andy Baddeley too ;)

[natgrn]

Brilliant! thank you for posting!