AAA champs 1500 Coe v Ovett + interviews - 1989

[@AlbertAlbert-je3fs]

A great, brave , caring , man Steve Overt. We need more like him.

[@Kvbftng]

I remember this , the build up was terribly hard on ovett the pressure put on him

[@peterthomas5792]

The only person who comes out of this video with no credit whatsoever is Andy Norman. He deceitfully pretended the payment issue didn't exist. Hats off to Seb for both the recovery and the respect shown to Steve. Ultimate respect to Steve for his principled stand to defend the sport he loves and his fellow athletes - what a man.

[@RandomGuy-dw7hf]

That was very good of Steve Ovett to be so honest and open about the politics

[@craigsimons817]

What a gentleman Ovett was and Coe conducted himself well also.

[@gakaface]

Thank you very much for posting this in full. I remember it so well. Knowing Steve Ovett's character and integrity, there is no doubt in my mind that Andy Norman was being utterly deceitful here. Aside from the actual race, which was pretty exciting, this was one of the blackest moments in British Athletics' history, and it was all down to Norman - one of the highest ranking officials corrupting the sport.

[@ewaf88]

I think part of his tears were because he knew he was well past is best in the 1500m and that his wonderful career was nearly over. We've all had that feeling - what next?

[@jon62punk]

What next ? ......... well we haven't had the likes of Coe , Ovett or Cram in the last 30 years now . I don't think our athletes now are getting anywhere near the times they were knocking out , or even the lesser lights of that era - Elliot , McKean and more. In the middle distances unfortunately GB have gone backwards .

[@ewaf88]

Yes we have gone backwards in the 800 - 1500 distances and I just can't see where the next star is coming from. Perhaps getting three outstanding runner at nearly the same time was a fluke. Perhaps there is someone great out there who doesn't even do athletics at the moment.

[@ewaf88]

@yortzandat Certainly a very good runner but at 23 his times are nowhere near where Coe's were at the same age

[@kevindean1327]

@@ewaf88 A rare alignment like the Beatles!

[@eliaskotzakidis8773]

Excellent athletes both of them! I was still in school watcing them extinguishing and they were my heroes. Sebastian Coe was a phenomenon! I think that he was the best of the best of all times in these distances (800 m, 1.500 m, mile). Greetings from Greece.

[@ursklauser2401]

Truely the two greatest ever middle distance runners Steve Ovett and Seb Coe with courage and honesty never seen again since. I salute you Steve.....Seb your win after what occurred is something only real champions can achieve I am absolutely honoured to have been running with you.

[@APBCTechnique]

Yes

[@thomas1630]

Remarkable comeback, Seb has the greatest form ever, born to run, this race came at a cost was one of his last.

[@MrHistorian123]

I always thought Steve Ovett was slightly arrogant - until i met him and ran with him in a charity race. He couldn't have been nicer or a better sport. Lovely guy. Given that I don't think he ever ran another relay, I may be the only person who can say "I passed the baton to Steve Ovett".

[@wolfie5]

Not always been a fan of Coe - especially his politics but I liked his respect for Ovett in the interview and Ovett's gentlemanly gesture both went up in my esteem.

[@human777]

God bless Steve Ovett

[@iancarter4196]

We had three world class middle distance runners in the eighties and I loved every second of every race.in fact these guys inspired me to take up running as a hobby and to get fitter. Obviously not in this league. Good days and good memories.

[@neathletics2439]

Back in the day it was always are you a Coe or Ovett fan? I never understood why you had to choose. And I still love watching them both on KZbin. And it's worth mentioning some of the other UK athletes who made up the 'Golden Age' - Dave Moorcroft, Steve Cram, Peter Elliot, Tom McKean, Graham Williamson & John Robson et al. Happy days!

[@fontane007]

Coe was one of my sporting heroes growing up

[@seamusmccartin9683]

And he was clean, was'nt he ?

[@fontane007]

@@seamusmccartin9683 sometimes he had a bit of a stubble but yeah besides that he was generally a clean person I believe

[@LYNXHQ]

Coe and Ovett! 2 greats. Its sad to see him crying, seems like a genuine guy!

[@damienabbott9805]

Steve started the 1980s as the greatest 1500m on the planet and finished the 80s in such sad circumstances. Despite these setbacks he always remained a true gentleman.

[@ianhenshaw2930]

I've never seen Steve Ovett's response to this controversy until today. The man has soared in my estimations. You can see how sorrowful and used he felt. You cannot fake real tears. Also I never knew that he turned the money down after all. This video was a revelation.

[@APBCTechnique]

OVETT, COE CRAM was a phenomenon that won’t be repeated. Ovett and Cram are now the best two commentators by far in athletics.

[@RandomGuy-dw7hf]

I was actually really surprised to hear Cram commentating a race as early as this. He’s made some of the most iconic athletics moments of my generation even better

[@downtherabbithole1353]

There was also Peter Elliot, silver in the 1988 Olympics and 1987 World Championship.

[@APBCTechnique]

@@downtherabbithole1353 no doubt a champion in his own right - 1990 commonwealth 1500m champion. Just not quite a world record breaker

[@seamusmccartin9683]

Don't forget peter elliott !

[@johnmc3862]

Great runners, not sure about the commentators bit!!

[@StevenRead-qg6ps]

Crabb fall and an incredible last lap from Coe. What a race.

[@peterayres6977]

what happened to crabb ? (in general i mean)

[@StevenRead-qg6ps]

@@peterayres6977 I used to be in the same club and after he retired I saw him in a supermarket locally and he looked very comfortable in retirement shall we say.

[@peterayres6977]

@@StevenRead-qg6ps Thanks for that steven. He seemed to vanish (in my mind) from the top over night, maybe injury ? dont remember him having a long career at the top level (i could be wrong though)

[@brendanbrown3100]

Class act from Coe on and off the track

[@jimmason8502]

Ovett is a true gentleman and I grew up running and racing with Coe-Ovett as my heroes. And Ovett is an amazing commentator now too, the best to do color commentary in track by far

[@iancarter4196]

Jim Mason Hi. I’ve never heard his commentary. What channel does he commentate on? I’ve heard Steve Cram a lot though.

[@josephgarcia3767]

Jim Mason Both Ovett & Coe are amazing runners 🏃🏻!!!!! Unfortunately, there wasn’t the higher appearance fees that would be coming later on for other track athletes. Watch the movie on the life of Steve Prefontaine. He, Frank Shorter, Mac Wilkins & others fought a greedy & corrupt AAU (they always built the lie that American athletes had to live in poverty while they lived in luxury - from money that was supposed to be given to those American athletes). This was a Golden age of British running. What they did was very inspirational.

[@Anthony-Testicali]

@@iancarter4196 yes. .ovett was the inhouse commentator for itv throughout the early mid 1990s im sure...he disappeared after that to auatralia i think he must have been commentating there cos i havnt heard him in the uk for 25 years...unless hes on eurosport??? Could someone clear u0 the mystery?

[@Robert-mn8gc]

Very caring compassionate decent fella Steve Ovett & good on him 4 turning the cash down . Those folk who offered the cash should've be banned 4 life from Athletics .

[@johnmc3862]

It had to be Steve Crab!! 😂😂😂

[@paulryder1204]

Steve ovett one word. LEGAND

[@christophersmith3254]

Coes last lap was about 50-51 off a shaky start. And this 3:29.67 CR was probably the WR at one point in time. Incredible.

[@jasonstewart9919]

3.29.67 wasn't the CR (Championship Record) it was the British record and was the WR in 1985. When this race was run it was still the number 2 time ever run (only Aouita had beaten it). Not sure why they ever claimed it was the CR

[@deano27671]

@@jasonstewart9919 CR probably stood for 'Commonwealth Record', which it was in 1989. The 3:29.67 was Cram's pb (UK record) from 85, although Coe almost broke it with 3:29.77 in 86.

[@iancollinge2254]

Ovett and Coe were great role model for British athletes and i grew up watching both of them excelling. Ovett was my favourite though. That guy was lying through his teeth!

[@jleon165]

Vengo cada cierto tiempo a ver este video, me impresiona cada vez que lo veo, de otro mundo Seb Coe.

[@jontyarnold8522]

Ovett and Coe should have met in the 1988 1500m AAA final.........Ovett won his semi final, Coe didn’t qualify.......Ovett finished 4th in the 1988 final, nearly qualified for Seoul .....so close Steve......always my favourite as a kid......

[@jamescarpenter6585]

It’s not fair to hark on about this race as Coe v Ovett. Ovett (post LA Olympics) was not able to compete at this level and only competed for his love of running. Coe wasn’t so great himself but still able to win domestic races of this ilk. If you’re going to compare Seb and Steve at this stage in their careers, people should also take into account that Ovett was winning AAA 800 metres in 1974, a good three to four years ahead of Coe’s emergence.

[@deano27671]

After LA Coe was ranked #1 in '86 over 800m as well as European champion over the distance. He was also the fastest in the world over 1500m in 86 - 3:29.77. The year this was run he won silver in the 1500m World Cup and was the 2nd fastest in the world over 800m (1:43.38). So while he wasn't at his career peak and you are correct to say that this shouldn't be labeled as a 'Coe v Ovett' clash, Coe was still better than just winning 'domestic races' like this.

[@APBCTechnique]

@@deano27671agree he was top 2 or 3 globally, sad they robbed him of a Olympic 88 chance at 1500m- I think he’d of medaled in the 800m and maybe gold again in the 15. A great 1500m runner

[@paulwilliams8389]

@@APBCTechniqueHe robbed himself of the chance - he went to altitude and didn't time his comeback to sea level correctly so bombed out in the trials. He tried to give himself an advantage and I'm afraid it back fired. He knew what the rules were, that he had to finish in the top two as Steve Cram was a certainty to be offered the third and final spot. Also, he ruled himself out of running in the 800m in Seoul even before the trials.

[@matthewnewnham-runner-writer]

Exactly,@@paulwilliams8389 - I was just thinking about that race earlier today before my run. I remember Seb crouched down and pounding the track with his fists in frustration immediately after the race. And I remember the commentator (probably David Coleman) saying it was a rare instance of Coe mistiming his peaking.

[@shangrila73eldorado]

coe is a beast

[@Robert-mn8gc]

Seb Coe is my favourite. Awesome result 2 come back from there

[@smudgersmith9680]

Knew about this race but not about the controversy. Interesting stuff.

[@redd605]

For years trying to make this race happen .ten years too late they should off raced as arranged at Zurich 1979 in the race coe broke 1500 metres world record to become the first Britain to officially hold that record and I think BBC showed Zurich live

[@gabeg2434]

Coe with a pulled hamstring and hurdling Cram. Ovett and others got pushed and what a slow pace for these guys. Great race no matter the chaos. Ovett’s honesty and class are not normal now and show a decency that like Seb said lifts him in my opinion as well.

[@c-9233]

*Crabb*

[@stuartchester6899]

Steve CRAM was younger than Coe and Ovett at that time and if he was running would have beaten than both , but Steve CRABB wrecked the race like an idiot and crossed over barging in knocking Coe for six

[@kevinkilduff2064]

Even as an older athlete, Seb demonstrates the heart of an an all-time great. As good a kick as any runner who has graced a track. Seb and Steve were class acts to boot. Steve deserved better than this betrayal. We will be hard pressed to see two better runners than these two Englishmen.

[@paule8174]

He really was the Best! And that incident shows it!!

[@Tracks777]

I enjoyed the video! Keep it up!

[@Revolver1981]

MisterBassBoost Watching the greatest of all time Steve Ovett in tears is tough to watch.

[@Tennisapiens]

Fantastico Sebastian! Mio idolo da bambino!

[@ivonleeiv5901]

I hope and think we will see a return to the high profile type of competition and media attention that is represented by great runners such as Coe, Cramer and Ovett, as well as Liqouri, Ryun and Prefontaine.

[@stuartchester6899]

Its CRAM and he was nt running in that race , Steve CRABB was though

[@seanscanlon9067]

2:45 HTF has #24 Steve Halliday been disqualified there?

[@redd605]

I wished they had raced each other as planned in Zurich 1979 . At the height of the Coe ovett drama when both in

[@paulwilliams8389]

There was an idea for them to have a three race series in 1981 over 800m/3000m/Mile but sadly nothing came of it.

[@redd605]

@@paulwilliams8389 that it I remember the radio times had a picture of both hoping to racing each other at crystal palace over 3,000 m .I don't no if it was this but I remember it was going to happen. and also Zurich 1979 Coe 1500 metres world record run ovett last minute pulling out .

[@201081hero]

It apparently didn't happen because the organiser of that meeting didn't want Coe's record attempt ruined.

[@Robert-mn8gc]

That was a Tough Gritty Win from Seb Coe . Tough race 4 Ovett .

[@APBCTechnique]

Ovett’s was at his best 1977-1980 amazing in a 1500m in 1977 with john walker running a 11.9 100m on the bend. This is the back end of ovett’s career

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

Strangely enough Cram was the youngest of the three and yet he was finished as an athlete before this race took place!

[@APBCTechnique]

@@KryptonitetoallBSyour right Cram didn’t win anything major after 1986 European commonwealth titles but ran well in 87 and 88 in bursts 89 onwards he was declining

[@MrHistorian123]

Why was Steve Halliday disqualified when he had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with what happened?

[@loveboaterboy8352]

Why the hell was steve halliday disqualified???

[@daveyork0]

fast forward to today and if you don't front up the $ then Usain Bolt just doesn't get out of bed

[@markbailey1970]

What an athlete Coe was - and Ovett too.

[@chrisab66]

Such a shame the camera angle changed on the back straight as it doesn't give you the impact of Coe's comeback.

[@nicholasbeech932]

Remember this race at the time

[@amandacamilleri6564]

Seb Coe my hero

[@danielbatten1837]

Sebastian Coe was a special athlete

[@ThankGodForJesusChrist]

Sebastian Coe: Double Olympic Champion 🥇🥇

[@anthonyparkinson5544]

At this stage both were back numbers, their best years well behind them

[@streetsmart73]

COE FOREVER 👍👍👍👍👍

[@redd605]

This should of happened in 1983 in the UK I remember the radio times cover of both to run Crystal palace in same race,not 100% about year

[@nelsonperez518]

Mi inspiración personal para rematar y vaya que me dio frutos en lo personal esa inspiración : Sebastián Coe

[@mathematics5573]

Seb should have run 3.27 that day.

[@geekpie100]

I still don't fully understand Ovett's point of view. He was offered money, he turned it down. So why, if he knew he wasn't in the greatest shape, did he compete in this event at all?

[@kevinjames7012]

Andy Norman...as corrupt as they come!

[@andreaselleri400]

Sebastian Coe fenomeno!!!!

[@mathematics5573]

Guess is the official is lieing. Ovett has always been genuine and open and just speaks his mind.

[@superbike1]

If Coe had his time in today's era he would be in the 1:39s bracket.

[@deano27671]

Not sure about 1:39, but with today's tracks and the new 'super shoes' he would certainly be the WR holder if running today in his 81 form.

[@paulwilliams8389]

I doubt that anyone could run 1 min 39 but I'm sure he could potentially beat Rudisha's record.

[@francishooton3933]

either steve ovett or the official lieing. But I don't know what is going. Painful seeing Ovett in tears. Something made him upset.

[@APBCTechnique]

Andy Norman as corrupt as as they come offered Ovett money to run and he wasn’t fit to race. Norman wanted the UK Coe Ovett clash and a ‘full house’ Ovett is not a liar type person - honest as they come

[@spo-h4u]

​​@@APBCTechniqueyep True I was there and remember the hype for the race and Steve was not fit

[@donny2327]

I will never understand how Coe was left out of the 88 Olympic team.

[@201081hero]

I still say the same thing about Roger Black's non-selection in 1998.

[@paulwilliams8389]

I'm afraid it was his own fault. He did altitude training before the trials and didn't give his body time to readjust to running at sea level again so bombed out in the heats. He knew that he had to finish in the first two at the trials (which he surely would have managed without altitude training) because Steve Cram was a cert for the the third spot on the team.

[@shangrila73eldorado]

Coe was a god

[@seamusmccartin9683]

Only one God, my (dear fallow).

[@shangrila73eldorado]

@@seamusmccartin9683 you must be god the way you're dictating the your truth

[@seamusmccartin9683]

@@shangrila73eldorado ....but a modest one !!!

[@Anthony-Testicali]

We need Steve Ovett to come back to the UK and be knighted

[@drrsc]

failed basketball players, big lugs, muck up the works - plus reinstating some runners eliminated from heats for falling, of all things. Ovett looked good in the heats, but this isn't the 1500m steeplechase, or body-hurdles race, it's a flat fifteen. Crabb tried to slow the race down, understandably given how he lacks a quick finish. But he cut in too soon, colliding from in front with Morrell behind which started the whole mess. From what I've heard, Mr. Norman wasn't honest in what he related.

[@DuderinoDeux]

Cassandra's dad on commentary

[@RobertoMartinez-kv5tp]

Coe no es de este mundo. Ovett, grandioso.

[@Hever73]

Did any of these guys were ever tested positive (+)? cz they have such a stamina

[@mathematics5573]

Ovett should have run 3.26 in this race

[@davidshannon2860]

Francis Hooton really

[@richardhamilton5483]

Andy Norman what a piece of bleep bleep