Cram v Coe - European Athletic Championships 1986 1500 mtrs Final

[@FromUSAtoFJB]

Seb Coe was poetry in motion! He almost floated above the ground.

[@kingcurry6594]

Unfortunately, he floated above the ground about 5m behind Steve Cram.

[@JasonGresswell]

@@kingcurry6594 He had won the 800m a few days previous though. That 1/2 mile was still in his legs.

[@henrybenjaminstoneking238]

"Poetry in motion" as he ran a 4 minute mile, and waited until way too late to start his surge Kind of like when he got his arse kicked in the Olympic 800 by Ovett. He had a hard time understanding what to do in slow races, and would tend to give others way too much space which he could not make up. When a race is this slow, you need to be in the lead with a lap to go, and he is kind of spaced out mentally again, like the 800 he lost to Ovett. You aint runnin down Ovett or Cram off a slow pace.

[@colmpatrick]

@@FromUSAtoFJB ..femmka boll.. the new coe

[@johnmc3862]

​@@colmpatrick Left for dead in the 400m.

[@giovanni_7191]

When I recall 800 and 1500 back in the early 80s these 3 Britons come in mind: Cram, Ovett, Coe. Great years.

[@andys2856]

Tom Mckean also.

[@davezoom-yb8pm]

@@andys2856 Peter Elliot

[@ianwalburn5603]

Well said😊

[@acxezknightnite1377]

Great times for UK athletics, along with Daley Thompson. I loved watching these guys as a kids - it wasn’t often that team GB dominated an event but you could sit back and watch, knowing that gold was going to Britain..

[@archiewoosung5062]

With the odd exception

[@paulwilliams8389]

Certainly in middle distance events in that era it was usually just a case of which Brit was going to win it - British athletes won gold in every 1500m major championships (Olympic/World/Euros/Commonwealth) from 1978-86.

[@keshoasubuhi]

Surely there has been no more elegant middle-distance running style than that of Steve Cram

[@jeffallinson8089]

At the time, everyone talked about Coe and Ovett but Cram was a phenomenal athlete; a master tactician who would literally run the finish out of his opponents and do it from anywhere in the field. That is what made him so special and this race was a good case in point.

[@mikearndt2217]

Agreed, Cram great but watch the last 150m of the 1500m in the ‘84 Olympics or the ‘80 Olympics. Sorry but the euro’s don’t compare. Never will

[@mikearndt2217]

And silver in the 800m same Olympic years!! Coe best ever

[@phillylifer]

He owned the world for a while there.

[@deanmillard1348]

He wasn’t in coes league or ovett

[@ArchieFatcackie]

@@deanmillard1348 You don’t know what you’re talking about of course he was.

[@rustypiece2549]

Britain was blessed with Coe, Ovett , Cram and Elliot. 1977-1990 ish. Blessed

[@markjex9035]

Peter Elliott, was capable of beating all three of them ! At his Peak, they were Very Lucky that they never clashed with him , when he was FLYING 🛩

[@paulwilliams8389]

@@markjex9035 Absolutely - Elliott was a top class athlete in his own right who never got the credit he deserved because he was often in the shadow of the big three.

[@emmaterriere1]

And John Gladwin !

[@peters6119]

Better race by Cram. He was in better position and it was too much for Coe to make up especially when Cram ran so well. Coe appeared to be just past his prime in this championships race, but he actually ran 3:29 for the only time in his career a few weeks after this race so it was full marks to Cram to beat him on the day.

[@linrob1312]

Coe suffered lot of pushing and shoving in the bunch...I always thought he was the better athlete.

[@sananto6896]

Cram ran a gutsy race. He put it on the line when he went to the front early. But, it was a great move because he was up front at the right time to start the sprint. Amazing how he was able to stay ahead the last 200 meters sprint.

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

As happened many times in his career Coe was in the wrong place with 500, 400, 300 and 200 to go. He used up his energy getting to Cram. Cram made the right choices all the way through, because he knew that Coe's strength is down the last 100. By going early, he sapped the finish out of Coe. Great race!

[@colinbrigham8253]

Thank you 🤗

[@KingLiopleurodon]

Classic md championship running by the 80s greats. Coe was not displeased by this...more resigned. Probably helped by his 800 gold earlier that week. Cram ran that last 300 very hard and yes, Coe did give away too much distance (yes yes I know this is the age-old deano argument) but he had good reason for doing so. Coe was not a physical racer and always kept wide/behind to avoid space conflicts with other runners. He always ran further by doing so but avoided getting bounced off the track or tripped e.g. 89 AAAs 1500. As for tactics, Coe himself said about Cram (when discussing the 84OG), I don't want to let Cram to get in front on the last lap with nothing but open track ahead of him...he messed up here by failing to follow his own tactical advice, by not closing on Cram at the bell and around the penultimate bend. Coe kicked hard off the final turn and closed slightly between 120m and 70m to go, but burned himself out while Cram held his form, pulling away again. Both ran 3.30/3.29 within two weeks of this (Cram - Brussels/Coe - Rieti) so basically, they were in identical world-leading form at 1500 in 1986. Interesting karmic point..I think this played out much like the Coe/Ovett duel in 1980 but with Coe on the other side of the drama i.e. the guy who lost the 800 stewed about it, and vowed not to repeat his tactical errors in the 15, while the guy who won the 8 was happier, not quite in the killer mindframe even if physically ready to compete....

[@christhompson9819]

Greatest sporting event i ever saw was The Golden Mile in Brussels in 81 when Coe at the height of his power broke the world mile record demolishing the greatest milers of all time (except Steve Ovett). This was 5 years later and really was the last big meet for Seb who was always a brilliantly smooth runner

[@denisej4813]

That 1981 race in Brussels was, astonishingly, the third time the mile world record had been broken in nine days! Coe broke Ovett's record, set just two days earlier in Koblenz, where Ovett had broken the record set by Coe just a week before that in Zurich, amazing stuff!

[@christhompson9819]

@@denisej4813 At the time I lived in Germany near the Dutch border and had travelled to Koblenz on the Wednesday to see the Ovett race in that picturesque stadium and then on the Friday night two days later to Brussels to see the Golden Mile. It took me weeks to come down from the high and tge Golden Mile remains the greatest sporting event I've ever been privileged to see.

[@denisej4813]

@@christhompson9819 Wow, what a privilege to see sporting history literally unfolding in front of you like that! I'm not surprised you were walking on air!

[@keithbate9405]

In the period 1982/86 when Cram got to the front like this no one could overtake him (Aquita/Coe /Ovett) he had lost his winter training in late 83/early 84 and was not 100 % at the 1984 Olympics . But still got the silver . In 1982/83/85/86 he beat them all !

[@APBCTechnique]

Cram was a excellent tactical racer. He never lost because bad tactics - only injury or not fit enough. Brilliant racing mind

[@timrobinson100]

HORRIBLE PERSON THOUGH

[@SirPeter6464]

@@timrobinson100 how so?

[@APBCTechnique]

Tim Robinson why do you say that ?

[@chrisab66]

Coe himself said after the 1984 Olympics that he couldn't risk being behind Cram and had to stay at the front if possible which is why I was surprised he raced the way he did in the 800m although obviously a different race. Being behind Cram here was a step too far.

[@neathletics2439]

Coe & Cram were phenomenal athletes. Incredible to think that after the 800m & 1500m Euros, neither would win another major Championship race...

[@younessradi3079]

Saïd Aouita

[@markjex9035]

Short Memories ! EVERYONE'S FORGOTTEN , Peter Elliott , could match anyone on his DAY .

[@markfox1545]

He really couldn't.

[@user-xg6yc8ho3w]

Imagine if these guys were racing today, with modern training techniques and sports nutrition/therapy.

[@denisej4813]

Interestingly, a lot of the more recent training techniques date back to the approach taken by Seb's father and coach, Peter, who as an engineer brought in a more methodical, scientific approach to coaching.

[@damienabbott9805]

The 1986 European Championships in Stuttgart was the final chapter in the golden era of British Athletics.

[@synxx1004]

A golden era for middle distance running, effortless power and technique from Cram. Perfection

[@markjex9035]

Peter Elliott, would of thrashed Cram indoors 😮

[@synxx1004]

Like everyone remembers the indoor champions

[@markjex9035]

@@synxx1004 Peter Elliott , held the British Record 🌎 for 32 years .

[@synxx1004]

@@markjex9035 I think that was the British Indoor record he held… for the mile, around an era then when the African countries started to dominate. A good runner, but not in the Cram/Coe calibre

[@markjex9035]

@@synxx1004 yes sir you are correct british record 32 years ! But your very wrong in ! Calibre, 1988 final Olympics , where was Cram ? Hmm 😒 peter had lots of injuries after then . He,s Probably the most unfortunate UNDERRATED runner of all time ⏲.

[@jasondyer811]

Cram looked very strong there

[@chomskysarmy3965]

Coe magnanimous in defeat for once, nice to see.

[@rc2869]

I think Coe made a few errors here not as bad as 800m in Moscow mind. Also I think he wanted the 800m title more and this was one race to far as he was recovering from injury, Professional performance by Cram though after the 'shock' of 800m loss

[@colmpatrick]

Great stuff 😮ah, The good old days

[@SirPeter6464]

Cram punching the air and getting a change of pace. Seemed to leave him shortly after. One of the great drive for home runners. I've always though unpassable at his best. Coe needed to mark him on the last lap, slipstream him to have any chance.

[@trwent]

You've always THOUGH?

[@philipmccarthy6175]

Coe is the best UK middle distance runner of all time. His world 800m record stood for years and is still one of the fastest times ever 40 years later.

[@Andrew-q8k]

For almost 10 years every major championship you knew a GB runner would either get gold or definitely medal

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

By 1986 it was too much for Coe to win both 800 and 1500 when you take all the heats into consideration. He'd missed weeks of mid season training in 1985 with a back injury but he was in pretty decent shape in 86. Despite being around 30 years of age he probably could have won whichever race he chose but not both. Tactically he ran a terrible race here but with hindsight I'm sure he would prefer the 800 which he won, over the 1500 in this competition!

[@GSD-hd1yh]

I had forgotten just how bad Coes tactics could be at times. After being in the front 4 he lets himself slide towards the back each lap, eventually ending up out of position and unable to challenge. Should have sat on the leaders shoulder throughout and made everyone else go the long way round.

[@mikem9252]

good point - coe weighed just under 130 - needed to stay clear of trouble - ran extra in many races - still thought he might get cram but by now steve was healthy and confident - coe got him in the 800 at this meet

[@kennethhills6906]

That strikes me as right on the money. When he was younger, Coe could run tactically extravagant races to avoid trouble and still win. As he got nearer the end of his career he could not afford such luxuries, But as you say he was smaller and lighter than the field so was always keen to avoid being bunched in.

[@richardmilliken5651]

Coe weighed 119lb at 5ft 9in

[@kamn6984]

Oh man great days Great rivalry

[@Fleetingbluesband]

I don't know how that Swedish runner wasn't banned for all that bumping and barging

[@joemcm1]

the look at the end says it all.a gentlemens agreement-coes 800/crams 1500

[@daynerpotter9514]

Seb Coe, great sportsman to the very end 👍

[@alaincourcelles6664]

64"50 au dernier 500 m pour Steve Cram !!

[@gakaface]

Cram ran the last 300m in 37.89s representing a pace of 50.5 for 400m. Coe would have needed under 37.2 seconds to catch Cram but he was flat out and made up no distance at all over that last 300m. He was clearly in a poor position from 3 laps out and certainly from 2 laps out. Tactically very poor. Easy to say with hindsight but he should have known, what with two Olympic 1500m gold medals of experience to his name!

[@mathematics5573]

Coe at his best could run 400m in 45/46 and about 33/34 for 300m. So at his best, he probably could have caught and beaten Cram in the race.

[@3John-Bishop]

Too many runners in the race.. everyone gets boxed in.

[@richardmilliken5651]

@@mathematics5573 Cram would've ran the last 400m in under 50 seconds if pushed by Coe!! And Coe was blown away by Cruz in the last 100m at the 1984 Olympic games in the 800m!!

[@LPCLASSICAL]

@@richardmilliken5651 True. when Cram was in form - a slow race with a fast last 300 he was difficult if not impossible to beat. Coe's only chance was to be in front of Cram at 250 out which he was in LA. Knowing Cram was so strong I am surprised he ran this race from that back. Having said that - I think Cram would have won anyway but it would have been closer. I think Coe had his gold and ran indifferently in the 1500.

[@user-xn2hf9re8r]

I had no idea Seb was so short or is Steve v tall?

[@trevorturner8037]

coe is 5’9 and cram is 6’1

[@lanagorgeous9485]

Boy oh boy did they run so many tactical races back in the 80's. Nowadays, the best Europeans have to run 3:29 to win world championships and 3:28 to win the Olympics and in next year Olympics the winner may have to run 3:27ish. Championship races just run so different now, thanks to Jakob Ingebrigtsen. I hope it never goes back to championship 1500m races won in the 3:40's to 3:50 for men! It may actually someday be won in the 3:40's for women 😂

[@paulwilliams8389]

They tend to be fast because Ingebritsen doesn't have a big finishing kick so (like Filbert Bayi in the 70's) he takes the pace on and tries to run the finish out of everyone else.

[@nigelford3154]

Ovett stepped up to 5000 metres in Commonwealth and European that year

[@deano27671]

It's possible to work out that Coe ran approx 26.5m extra than he needed to by running wide on the bends. He should have won this had he not given Cram such a huge advantage. Very bad tactics from Coe and a good run from Cram

[@Sean-zg4iy]

Nothing to choose between them in 86 was there? It strikes me it was just a matter of whoever ran the best tactical race on the day. Only 2 years later Coe was not taken to the Olympics how wrong is that on a scale of 1-10?

[@welshtoro3256]

I agree on both points deano. Coe allowed Cram to get a space at a critical point. You could see from his reaction at the finish he knew it. Take nothing away from Cram though. He was in fine form and ran a perfect race. It reminds me of Coe's mess in the 1980 Olympics.

[@keithbate9405]

Agreed and if I remember rightly 5 days after the 1500m Olympic final Coe ran 1.42 something for 800m. Rono won the 1988 Olympics . Rono who ?? (Elliot got the silver)

[@APBCTechnique]

deano27671 cram run a tactically wise race finishing in 24.8 last 200m and Coe gave cram 4m at the bell and also ran wide 25m on the bends. Idiotic tactics by Coe and a good race by cram. Cram a month prior at commonwealth would have beat Coe easily in both 800 and 1500. By Europeans he was jaded

[@davidshannon2860]

deano27671 agree tactically Coe was terrible in this race he gave cram to much of a lead in last lap sometimes Coe was found wanting tactically cram always seemed to b in right position in his championship races

[@spleeeen4it]

at one point i thought coe was going to fall out the back of the tv

[@Mysteryman93]

Cram when fully fit and in his prime was such an elegant runner to watch. Just a shame hes a tory.

[@yung4evr]

Just a great call by the BBC announcer.

[@davidcoleman3661]

David Coleman was the BBC commentator. My namesake so very difficult to forget. I was nick named Sports Night by my school mates.

[@mrt8694]

Great race coalman and Brendan foster brilliant…….

[@PaulRoneClarke]

They look like they've expended about the same effort as it takes to take the cellophane wrapper off a packet of cigarettes.

[@joangrant5248]

Coe was the only one I liked.

[@Lebowski53]

Coe just got caught in no man’s land.

[@oakiarg]

a Gonzalez lo favorecia un ritmo rapido de carrera desde el inicio, un error ponerse detras de Coe

[@manelbalasch9671]

A Gonzalez le iban las carreras de 3:35. Ahi la carrera se hacia más limpia, y podía poner el turbo al final de la misma.

[@meisterlymanu5214]

well, if youre going to run in lane 2 most of the race, youre running more distance...

[@ericgeorge5483]

Perfection from the Jarrow Arrow.

[@alessandrodorsi9800]

An all -white 1500 meters final : that's impossible nowadays

[@thegee001ify]

Coe got battered around.

[@alexlorenzo8196]

37"90 au dernier 300m pour S.Cram !!

[@Alex-pr6zv]

and that after running the lap leading up to 1200 in 55.4!

[@lutherblisset372]

coe made the wrong tactic to stay inside the group and was force to run on the external line and in this way the distance become longer

[@waltt4968]

Once in a race between Franiu and Genek Franiu clocked one minute over first lap, then Genek gone berserk doing 43.00 sec ovè the second lap thus doing an amazing 1.43 00 over 800 meters in a local competitions. Genek's 43.00 over the second lap still stands as world record over 400 meters.

[@LPCLASSICAL]

do you have a reference for that race? any link to confirm what you are saying?

[@SimonHoward-fb6tr]

That would be a running start 400M, yes?

[@fatbelly27]

Cram had a beautiful running style. Better thzn Coe's

[@timn4481]

Coe ran 30m further plus got tangled up a few times.

[@csb7376]

Terrible race tactically. He was making up ground 4-5 wide round the bends.

[@lennoxmate4064]

Tim N the same as Cram in the 800m. Poor tactics but that’s how you win major championships

[@johnrogan9420]

Snell vs Cramm in a final 200 meter sprint would have been interesting...add juantoreno...3 sprinting 🐎 🐴 🐎 horses.

[@stephenclenton3122]

household names coe cram ovett Thompson, Alan Wells etc the good old days

[@RobertCarnevale-qr5ey]

The photographer at the end, in the blue jacket - too slight of build to be Chuck Norris...🤔 Kenny Loggins, perhaps? 😉

[@CRyan71]

First thing that struck me here was not a single black person. So different today. Shows the way the world has changed

[@jeffmedlock2782]

Black athletes generally didn’t compete in middle distance running until the African domination!😮

[@martspeight]

There's the bonus of eating a corn based cereal in a cave beforehand

[@Ruda-n4h]

Coe has another 'Moscow moment' and completely louses it up. Should have cruised it.

[@paulwilliams8389]

He said afterwards that he should have won it but just didn't have the hunger after winning the 800m. He had always been dismissive of Ovett saying he didn't have the same desire for the 1500m in Moscow after already winning the 800m but that he realised how Ovett was correct after losing this race to Cram.

[@geeache1891]

3:59

[@genesisjohan5137]

De hát milyen magasak és mekkorákat lépnek ez nem fair play az alacsonyabb versenyzőkkel szemben

[@GOATAli]

Tactics or not, Cram was stronger over the last 250. Coe made no real dent..Even if Coe was 2-3 meters closer with 250 to go he likely still doesn’t overtake Cram. Cram had an extra gear this day.

[@moroccoal-adarisa2300]

They could not be like the Moroccan ♥ Said Aouita ♥

[@jeremyhomewood7740]

Al - Adarisa oh shut up will you !!!!!!!! Said was inspired by seb coe and cram !!!! Cram beat said many times go check your history said this hicham that!!!!!!!! I cannot stand people who don't know what they are taking about!!!!!! Said was fantastic runner but it was Coe, ovett and cram that made him run so fast!!!! OKAY????????? Said was fantastic !!!!!! But look who he had to beat to become king !!!!!!!

[@davidshannon2860]

Aouita used to avoid Coe in many races they never ran against each other and cram had aouita number

[@keithbate9405]

yes Cram had an outstanding record V Aquita. The latter won his big races when Cram was not in the field (Just like Coe/Ovett avoided each other in 1981 . When they repeatedly broke each other's world 1500m and mile records . Until Coe put it out of sight of Steve O

[@andystoker6961]

No, Aouita - great as he is and was - never won the European title

[@Mozzer2004]

Methodistical He was Moroccan so he couldn’t compete in the European Championships.

[@andrewallen1083]

Coe gave cram 3- metres before last lap Once again coe showed his lack of respect to world class athletes

[@redsquirrelrichard8780]

I never liked Coe ,I always thought he looked and sounded arrogant, And I was right.

[@harryedwards9318]

Coe must have ran 100 meters further than Cram

[@brianwyse5810]

Two Irish lads in there vying for paddy last

[@raymondmurphy8681]

The Irish has some fantastic middle distance runners, were the best indoors in the 80s.many world titles

[@peterh1353]

Coe was never generous in defeat..😅

[@QMTimeisnotreal]

Besides Ovett (clearly the best racer, shame a drug cheat messed up the 1980 Olympic final, Ovett should have won that race) Coe and Cram, there was Peter Elliot who would have won Gold at the 1984 Olympics instead of Coe, had he been chosen to go and before any of them David Moorcroft who was a great racer over 1500 before he moved up to 5000 (which he did because of the emergence of Ovett). There were others before David, at one point the UK had eight of the best fifteen 1500 m runners in the world which meant we had great runners that missed out on the Olympics.

[@MrNaKillshots]

I'm glad Cram beat Coe.

[@kaybar6225]

Where are the Ethiopians and Kenyans??

[@terrydoyle4120]

Dont you wish we had a female commentator 😊

[@MoominJude]

No

[@drrsc]

coe let crammy win this on account of him winning the 800m title he always really wanted. ive heard that crammy was so upset after losing that 800 to coe that he thought about dropping out of this. good thing he didn't

[@feystongal]

Bellissime corse senza le lepri' costretti a lavorare durante tutta la corsa.

[@feystongal1986]

quando l'andatura'' e a passo di caccia'' emergono spesso anche gli asini

[@karenroberts1982]

you know that they where all clean because they where all white.

[@isaz597]

Do you remember reckon it was because they used Daz to get the perfect whites? 😉

[@MyraMarks]

Ghastly Mackem.

[@alainrichard6653]

Ah bonjour les feux ben il y en a ras-le-bol

[@Coultermark23]

Had to be the worst tactical race Coe ever ran, he was all over the place.

[@colinmann6295]

Coe looking at cram like how did you beat me. Better runner on the day. Coe such a sore loser😂

[@laveritaforza108]

326

[@terrytt5067]

Steve Cram never got the adulation he deserved from the "Powers that be & the Media" unlike that bloke who finished 2nd in this race! I'd like to say more about "the bloke in 2nd place" but would probably get in trouble!

[@scrumpymanjack]

Terry TT what a silly comment. “The bloke in second”, as you call him, was one of the greatest middle distance athletes in history. He broke the 800m world record by 1.7 seconds. Who does that? And, in doing so, he set a record in one of the most competitive track events that stood for 16 years. Who does that? So why not stop being weird and call him by his name?

[@dean2663]

What a stupid race. 2:07 1st half? They are lucky the African weren’t there!

[@natew5694]

most badly???? worse?

[@Idcanymore510]

The worst!

[@Furor_Teutonicus14]

At times were european Athlets were white 😔

[@pigslefats]

Well Coe wasn't Hicham. Never had the courage of his convictions, not like Rudisha. Classic example being Moscow 800m. Did not lead from the front.

[@paulfletcher7211]

Coe had no confidence in himself, why ! when he had such a fabulous run in Italy, a week later. I always thought Cram was a better tactician, Coe not so good and Ovett was the worst of all but pushed his way out of trouble.

[@peterdickinson8755]

It is so relevant, the race of life must be run according to principles established by the Author and Perfecter of Life. He epitomises successful people. Since we shall have to have a reckoning, And He showed how justice and peace are satisfied, He has given His own blood, so we know the life is in the blood, His pure sinless life and sacrifice on the cross, and subsequent resurrection gives meaning to ultimate forgiveness. It ain't enough that you know about Jesus, you gotta be willing to obey the Holy Spirit's leading and guidance. Basic Info Before Leaving Existence (Earthly) Jesus shall return to separate the sheep from the goats. Your eternal soul is precious. Give Jesus your heart and the other stuff will be vitally important too. Where your treasure is, that's where your heart is!

[@terrytt5067]

Are you sure you've responded to the right video?

[@andyallen4492]

cram was a better 1500/mile runner than coe and ovett .fact

[@mathematics5573]

Andy Allen, you don't know your history. Ovett set more 1500m and mile word records than Cram, for one.

[@andyallen4492]

Francis Hooton ovett was awesome but cram was quicker and always had the edge on coe and ovett .coe only won the 1984 1500m gold because cram was coming back from injury.look what cram did to coe the following year.(not bad considering I don't know my running history)

[@mathematics5573]

@@andyallen4492 you don't know your history are you don't realise that these top athletes train harder to run quicker. Many other people who comment on utube, agree that Ovett should have run a 3.29 for 1500m and 1 mile, but he was never really interested in world records. Ovett won an Olympics and set more world record than Cram. he probably should have run faster at 1500m and 1 mile. he won 2 world cups and a European title. He had endurance and kick. When Cram was getting to his best years, Ovett was past his best years. In the 1983 coca cola race, although Cram beats Ovett, many of us think that an Ovett at his best years, would have been able to kick past Cram at the end. Ovett was past his best. He had had a moe up and down season. I guess you are just a Cram fan. I'm a fan of all three.

[@andyallen4492]

Francis Hooton I love all 3 gods.cram won 1982 European and commonwealth champs.1983 world champs.1984 Olympic silver.2 world records in 1985(where he destroyed coe in 1 mile world record. 1986 he won European 1500m title beating coe(who was at his 1500 peak)coes 3.29 pb came in 1986.I agree with you that ovett should have run faster than his 3.30.77 pb for 1500m.I just feel cram had the edge over 1500/mile but I could be wrong.at the end of the day in crams own words' there's a few of us of equal talent its just about who gets it right on the day.'

[@mathematics5573]

@@andyallen4492 Thanks. I have heard Cam saying he could have run 3.26. he would have just trained harder. I met Ovett once. He could have broken the current world records, if he was around now. Same with Coe. he would just have trained harder. p.s. Ovett won 45 consecutive 1500 and mile races from 1977 to 1980. He was as dominant as Cram , if not more. When Cram beat Coe in 1985 and 1986, remember that Coe and Ovett were past their best years. At the peaks, they'd have pressurised Cram more. They might have even beaten him. On the day in 1980, that Ovett run 3.31.2 WR, he leaves it to the last 100m to go into the lead. If he had taken off 300 to 400 m earlier, i think he'd have run 3.29 or faster than day. He is also very unstressed at the end of that race., whic is why i think this

[@j8rtUfh3evz]

And of course the Brits were drug free and the rest were not......as if