Cram vs.Aouita-1500m WR (HQ), Nice,1985.

[@donfatale]

The quality of David Coleman's commentary never fades and so good to have it on such a historic race which I remember watching on TV. And how fitting that the new world record holder himself is now a very fine commentator.

[@vordman]

Cram and Aouita. Both legends. I used to love athletics in the 70s and 80s. Those European night meets the BBC used to show. Brilliant atmosphere and the highly-excitable David Colman in the commentary box! Those were the days.

[@stoolpigeon4285]

I totally agree.

[@MrNewtonian]

I agree 100 %

[@peterrozkowiec6828]

💯 👍

[@stevebloomer7027]

highlight reels 'and you join us just as the women's 100m is about to start'! Amazing Summer evenings.

[@francismorais4341]

Lest we forget - the commentator, David Coleman, was legendary himself!! David Coleman + Ron Pickering - the best of the best!!

[@markblow1966]

Ron Pickering was the legend that was sadly missed, Coleman was legendary, not always for the right reasons where his commentary was concerned.

[@nigelrg1]

I think it was Spitting image that did a hilrious send-up of David Coleman, with his voice becoming ever more frantic and ending with "Oh my God, I've gone too soon! I'm not going to make it ..."

[@craigfowler7098]

Oddly enough Steve Cram is now the commentator

[@jimmason8502]

@@craigfowler7098 And a very good one but not as good as Ovett

[@markrskinner]

"Colemanballs" Quite remarkable.

[@backcombed2559]

My dad made me run on the track in meadowbank Edinburgh to get aoita autograph,I was 7 years old I was scared ,I had to chase him on his lap of honour he was too fast,the crowd cheered for him to turn around he did i got his autograph ,the picture was in the paper the next day,My dad was so proud

[@backcombed2559]

@Marley Logan whats your point

[@philipbenjamin4720]

Great story!

[@gorse9030]

@@philipbenjamin4720 I agree great story - something amiss with the previous comment .

[@npm2457]

Brilliant race, brilliant commentary!! What a class act Aouita was here. I can't remember a track race where the 2nd place athlete celebrated with the winner. Steve and Said, thanks for a great memory.

[@tweyartweyar2063]

One of the best races of all time. Cram & Aouita set the standards for their fellow countrymen to follow. Classic.

[@galtongabriel1172]

What an absolutely superb race.Cram was phenomenal here & how Aouita hung in there, almost catching Cram at the death was just unbelievable

[@wandelpassiert8064]

Aoita's last lap in under 53 seconds. This is an amazing kick!!

[@britishroyalty372]

Steve Cram`s greatest race was long after he retired. Norway had just beaten England in a football game. Norway fans were full of themselves in the pub so England fans challenged then to a race around the block... The Norway crowd chose their fastest guy. The England fans likewise....... Steve Cram restored English pride! And downed a pint before the opposition returned to the pub.

[@warlaker]

Jakob Ingebrigsten was born too late.....

[@leevww]

@@warlaker wouldn't have made a blind bit of difference

[@PaulWashington..]

@@leevww They are both of the top 10 1500/1600m runners of all time. One is as good as the other.

[@donfatale]

Please god, let this be a true story!

[@joekavanagh7171]

I doubt if the Norwegian fans were that bothered. They won where it counted.

[@djbomboclart1501]

The last 800m was covered in 1:50 which is unbelievable even by today's standards. Cram was incredible in 1985.

[@ericgeorge5483]

Indeed. 85 was Crams best season, he was virtually untouchable that year and could win races from almost anywhere in the field.

[@garetht9666]

Even a drugged up Aouita couldn't beat him. Beat the 800, 1500m, and 5000m champs from 1984 (defeated Cruz in both 800m and 1500m). Coe did win an 800m early season though (before a back injury) and Ovett incredibly beat him over a mile (on the road) at the end of the season.

[@ericgeorge5483]

Gareth Turner Aouita drugged, based on what?

[@garetht9666]

Based on the fact that he encouraged the Australian distance runners he coached to take PEDs and was astonished that they weren't already, plus the fact that the North Africans who followed him ran times unmatched before or since, having careers consistent with EPO usage (incredible 1500/5000 WRs yet mediocre 800m performances - completely contradicting the history of 800/1500m runners from Snell to Cram - and beginning and ending just when EPO was available and undetectable.).

[@ericgeorge5483]

Gareth Turner I still think your comment is unjust, especially without proof.

[@marcmckee2384]

One of the all time great races. Cram imperious in 1985. And David Coleman… the finest of commentators

[@Giskard1000]

Steve Cram had such a beautiful running style. Majestic!

[@hnidchakib8981]

Mark Alldridge how old are you?

[@Rivodtadin]

Yes elegant and consistent running.

[@jimmason8502]

Mark, I agree. I could watch Crammy run all day. While I was more a Coe fan back in the 80s, Cram owned 1985!

[@Giskard1000]

Hi Jim. Yes, Britain was blessed with wonderful middle distance runners back then. Coe was an amazing athlete too. A different sort of runner, but it sure was a great time for British track running.

[@jamezkpal2361]

As soon as they turned for home Cram started pumping his arms like no tomorrow, knowing Aouita would be coming.

[@jamesgeorge2299]

What a magnificent race. Cram was one of the most beautiful of runners, Aouita had no business getting that close, giving away such a lead, and showed great strength and courage to do so. Unlike so many world record processions, this was a dramatic race between two all time great middle distance athletes.

[@scrumpymanjack]

What an incredible piece of running. He probably wouldn’t have won if he hadn’t gone so early. Strategically, it doesn’t get much better than that.

[@bdfoxfire]

Coe, Ovett, Cram. Their career heights overlapped a little - what a trio from the same country. Great to be a British middle distance fan at that time. Reminds me of that period in middle weight boxing when you had Hearns , Hagler and Lenard.

[@ButOneThingIsNeedful]

Great performance and equally admirable sportsmanship shown by Steve Cram. Love to root for a guy like that.

[@ericgeorge5483]

This has to be one of the most astonishing races I have ever seen. I remember this legendary showdown like it was yesterday. This was Crams best season; shame it wasn't an Olympic year!

[@glensmall9194]

Same.

[@imemine6494]

.. Yeah beat the Olympic champion at 800 cruz, over 800 in a time of 1.42 I think that year.. as well as easily beating coe over 1500..was injured most of 84..coming into the Olympics, and still got silver..

[@stephenreeds3632]

I agree. Such a superb runner with no Olympic medal. A lad from the North East beats someone born at altitude. Fantastic.

[@imemine6494]

@@stephenreeds3632.. No olympic gold.. he has a silver medal from 84

[@ericgeorge5483]

@@imemine6494 He really was some athlete.

[@moroccoal-adarisa2300]

♥ The Moroccan Legend Said Aouita become the king of middle distance 4 a years ...

[@mariomarini3774]

Christian beat islam!!!!

[@ahmedahmed-rr2wp]

😅😅😅😅😅انت في سبات ​@@mariomarini3774

[@martynnotman3467]

I remember watching this live. Im so old

[@rachid3234]

Yes, you are hahaha

[@peterwinkler4934]

Great race! An instant classic. Two all-time legends in Cram and Aouita.

[@PhilLewis-xg7iv]

Wow what a fantastic race. Steve cram what an athlete he was and now a superb commentator too.

[@gustavosanchezmumary1297]

I was a baby...I remembered that!!! 1/2 meter!!!! Aoouita was a beast at 1500m(and the mile,3000,5000 anda 10.000 meters!!! 1500-10000!!!AMAZING!!!)£

[@bharatmahaan2991]

800 m too... Aouita won an Olympic (bronze) medal at that distance... His range was phenomenal...

[@richardmelvin7411]

A great race indeed......I used to love Cram's cavalier approach to hitting the front with a couple of laps to go and slowly but surely cranking up the pace from the front, effectively taking the legs out of his opponents....great race and great British athlete.

[@coys77]

I watched this at home when I was 8 years old, a big Cram fan. Auoita was the best in the world and this race was one of the best ever, as my favourite runner beat the best in the world. What a tense and amazing race and time for athletics.

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

The year before @ the 1984 Olympics Aouita changed his race because he didn't think he could beat Coe in the Blue Riband event, the Olympic1500 metres. He made the right decision!!

[@jonhaslam3699]

I’d forgotten how good Steve Cram was. What a race!

[@ivansanders8459]

Cram at his fabulous best. Sadly he never received the accolades with Coe and Ovett got but nevertheless a LEGEND!

[@francishooton3933]

what do you mean? He didn't set as many world records and never won Olympic Gold. But he broke 3 world records and won numerous titles and ran some very fast times

[@ericgeorge5483]

Bollocks, he ran faster than both Coe and Ovett at 1500m

[@jeffgoblue]

Cram never got the accolades that Coe and Ovett did because he didn’t deliver gold in the Olympics.

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

Eric George :- times alone don't win over the public. Take Dave Bedford as an example, ran many records but he's not loved like Coe and Ovett because they wore the British vest and won major honours! Just as important is that both Coe and Ovett were older than Cram so times always improve in time. Just because some bloke runs faster in 1945 than Jesse Owens did in 1938 doesn't make him a better sprinter!

[@keithbate9405]

He was unlucky re the Olympics. In 1980 he was too young . By 1988 he was past it. 1984 was his year . he was the world , European and Commonwealth champion from 1982/83 at 1500m. Neither Coe nor Ovett had beaten him since 1981. But he picked up an injury around late Winter /early Spring 1984. He only just got back into full training a few weeks before the Olympics . But was clearly not at his best despite getting the silver medal in the 1500m behind Coe. he lacked his usual kick on the last lap. Overall though he had an outstanding record v Ovett and Coe in HTH's. from 1981/86. (in 1980 he was too young (just gone 20yo) and inexperienced and was still improving )

[@darren2514fv]

The build up to Seoul 1988 for the 1500m centred on Cram and Aoutia those 2 being the favourites for the 1500m

[@simonedwards8888]

I still can't believe said ran11,7 for the last 💯 metres!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Phenomenal!!!!!!!!!!

[@keithbate9405]

yet he lost !

[@beavissimple2306]

Great Said Aouita 👍

[@samassek]

@@keithbate9405 he lost but his PB in the 1500m is faster than Cram.just saying:)

[@keithbate9405]

@@samassek True I think he was the one who eventually broke Cram's World record but he lost twice to Cram in major races

[@samassek]

@@keithbate9405 I totally agree. To me Cram was a little better than Aouita.when it comes to middle-distance races(800,1500 and the mile).but Aouita was better in long distance races.

[@KingLiopleurodon]

Possibly the greatest run of Cram's career - maybe with the 2k WR and his 2:12 1000. A WR, a huge barrier-breaking time, and desperate victory by 0.04 over one of the greatest opponents ever. He made the right move at the perfect time, would have lost to Aouita had he delayed his strike even by 10m. Aouita's finish was insane, down the backstretch he KNEW the winner would be the immortal first under 3.30 and he gave it everything.

[@yusakugodai3208]

Steve Cram, a great and an elegant athlete. A gentleman !

[@ericgeorge5483]

I remember to this day watching this on the telly back in 85. Fab run by Cram, as for the Moroccan, bad luck.

[@keithbate9405]

not bad luck. He was always a little too far back in the race. tactical error not bad luck !

[@Giskard1000]

Brilliant piece of commentary by David Coleman too.

[@DavidThomas658]

Those photographers around the finishing line is something you don't see anymore

[@jerryoshea3116]

That has 2b one of the best races u are likely to see..The 2 top best runners in the world dualing it out and breaking a world record..And great Sportsmanship by both at the end!!

[@sananto6896]

Cram had nerves of steel. It takes guts to got all out as early as he did against world class competition.

[@stirfinan1]

What a magnificent athlete Steve Cram was . Wonderful stuff ………

[@acxezknightnite1377]

Cram made it look so easy every time. Pure class.

[@paulwiley1471]

Brilliant, and legendary commentary too.

[@Z00Maddict]

I haven't done that much track running but turning onto the last 100 metres with the hammer already long down that is some speed endurance going on there.

[@davidharris3914]

Does it get any better than that cram auoita that field as well with Ron Pickering commentating shivers down the spine

[@paulwiley1471]

Cram's best ever season was 85. Unlucky for him it wasn't a big Championship year. He ran under 143 in the 800m that season as well. He could've got an 800m, 1500m double had this been Olympic year.

[@jeansilvas]

Said Ouita was the future of running way ahead of his time only when Selasi and Bekele and of course Mo Farah arrived have 10 000 and 5000 runners been any good at 1500m, from now on we will see all the champion 5k and 10k runners will have the same capabillity as the best 1500m runners

[@XYZUNKNOWN]

Thanks for uploading.

[@johnrogan9420]

Why didn't Cram get more recognition in the 1980s???

[@zaksblaze]

Said Aouita the jedi 💖

[@astrea00]

DAMN that was a NAILBITING fucking finish! I seriously thought Aouita would steal this one for sure...

[@francishooton3933]

did you not watch that in 1985. no need to swear. It is a famous win, being so close. It was very exciting at the time. Aouita never beat Cram, ever, as far as I know..

[@soulyrasheed]

Aouita beat him few times from 800m to mile

[@stevemcgill2278]

Fantastic victory for Steve Cram. Magnificent athlete.

[@ArchieFatcackie]

What an athlete Steve Cram was.

[@archie6945]

Similar to the way Cram beat Ovett for the first time at Crystal Palace.. start the run for home much earlier than expected & hope to hang on.

[@francisb4617]

David Coleman has just died - I always thought this is the greatest athletics commentary I ever heard. His empassioned words of "Cram wins.....and the World record has gone......Steve Ovetts name is gone from the list.." obviously translates as "Coe/Ovett era is now dead and there is a new King". He could sum up the entire scene in just a few words. He was a highly knowledgeable man and not the idiot he is portrayed as. However, he did make us laugh at times by making stupid errors. Repeatedly berating the Australian team ("AUS") in 1991 for wearing Red & White is my favourite - they were actually Austria! Regarding 7agneskickingbird's comment, nobody can be 100% sure of anything in life other than we will all one day die and in the absence of any reasonable evidence, Cram's brilliant but believeable performances should not be besmirched.

[@AthletixStuffChannel]

My favourite "Colemanball" was his comment about Juantorena's stride:"He's opening his legs and showing what he's got".The man was a legend.

[@AmandaFletcherLotusVilllaSpain]

AthletixStuffChannel he actually said opening his legs and showing his class....

[@rocketmonkey9791]

Loved Coleman. Remember watching a UEFA (?) Cup Final in the 70s, where he tried to use his usual trademark ONE NIL. It went "one nil, one one, erm two one..." Or did I dream that? In any case Coleman and Pickering were geniuses and their commentaries framed my childhood.

[@ericgeorge5483]

Great post, well said. Coleman is hugely missed.

[@charliemagri1669]

Personally, I think Steve Cram is a great commentator and I never liked his attitude when he ran!

[@utujhgf]

Lovely night in Nice. Tremendous crowd. Thrilling finish. Horrendous pacing!! -- first too slow, then pacer blocks the leaders on the last lap. This likely cost Crambo a second. Amazingly, he still snagged the WR.

[@davidharris3914]

A race of beauty never to be matched

[@paulwhalley4746]

I always get goosebumps listening to David Colmems commentary

[@zabaleta66]

Grand run by Cram....fine chase by Aouita.

[@hchemlal]

If it weren't for Aouita and Cram's ferocious competitiveness I'd have have never respected Track and Field as much I do now. I am an old Moroccan dude.

[@pietrodi1]

Una delle più belle gare della distanza di sempre!

[@nickywall872]

Pickering mentions that Joaquim Cruz the 800m Olympic champion from 1984 is beaten. At the end he says Aouita the 5000m Olympic champion is closing. He is of course correct in both assertions.

[@carlosroa6328]

Épica carrera, con dos de los mejores rematadores de la historia. podían rematar una prueba de hasta 3000 mil metros en 51 segundos la última vuelta. Se me puso la piel de gallina viendo el final de esta prueba. Que bueno una trilogía con Sebastián Coe. Mejor dicho, se llenaría un estadio de mas de cien mil personas, para solo ver estos tres MONSTRUOS. Sería un verdadero deleite para los que amamos este bello deporte, el deporte base; el atletismo, el rey de los deportes.

[@ЭдгарГольцов]

Фантастический забег.Рубеж 3.30 впервые покорен сразу двумя бегунами.Крэм провел бег более грамотно тактически,и ранним ускорением свел на нет преимущество Ауиты в скорости на прямой

[@sandcastlejim]

great athletes. great commentators. the current commentators don't come close. box tickers not legends.

[@kevinjames7012]

jim bo the great David Coleman! Never forgotten👍

[@davidharris3914]

Well said, people like ron Pickering and David Coleman wouldn't be allowed to commentate on this race nowadays even though they are the best people for this job so isn't that exclusion

[@mbengaful]

Never a WR race looked so effortless. What a beautiful stride.

[@cullyx2913]

Remember watching this ,incredible race

[@Mardyfella]

The cc close captioning on this calls him “Deep Crap” I’m not kidding.

[@SweetJennyFan]

Those were special times for British middle distance running. We were spoilt. No doubt !

[@EspritemancipeasalwaysAfricawa]

Les années 80 et 90 étaient les années des légendes. c'était du vrai show!

[@d.e.s.k.t.appreciationsoci3166]

How good was Coleman...one of the best commentaries on one of the finest races ever seen..I don't look at the past through rose tinted spectacles, and there's some excellent commentators now, but the 3 best commentators were Coleman, Bill McLaren (and I've never liked rugby much) and Richie Benaud.

[@xanian]

Thank You for posting all these (again!)

[@paulwilliams8389]

The amount of ground Aouita makes up over the last 150m is amazing - the finish line came just in time for Cram!

[@earlybhoy1119]

Peak Steve Cram, often overlooked because of Coe and Ovett. What a runner

[@kcm73]

when I saw Hicham EL GUERROUJ running I forgot all the runners before and after him, of all time, and that until now. really masterful his style EL G

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

EPO.

[@usafo6546]

In addition to a great race, this led to the best Track and Field News cover ever produced, a beautiful photo of a leaning finish

[@mikenealon4042]

i still got it

[@albertmoulo3493]

L une des plus belles courses du 1500m de toute l histoire .

[@fatbelly27]

Some great middle distance runners in that race!

[@colinbrigham8253]

Wonderful, thank you.😊

[@AthletixStuffChannel]

Glad you appreciate it! Assume you saw on another comment that my previous channel got skedaddled...so slowly upload again,but carefully, without upsetting the copyright people .Ah,well,keep me from mischief! Seasons greetings from this side of the pond!

[@mattmoran4341]

Favourite race of all time magnificent

[@mohammedgarouj1318]

تحية لجميع ابطال المغرب 🇲🇦✌

[@charliemagri1669]

I think he also beat Down in the Golden mile too, in this year, so was undoubtedly the greatest at this time and his book is a must read: making of an athlete, which I am reading and accompanies the TV documentary; offering his own views while training in Colorado and racing back home. The book leads up to his World Championship success and before his 1985 year, so the title seems to infer that the author knew that more was to come!

[@ArchieFatcackie]

Cram was simply an incredible athlete.

[@nigelhopper9383]

Great runner and a Sunderland fan 👏

[@mustaphaikrimah129]

Splandide un Aouita qui revient de loin et Cram qui résiste jusqu'au bout fabuleuse fin de course de ces deux grands athlètes du demi-fond

[@chloefitzpatrick6894]

85 and 86 were cram's years. He was unbeatable at 1500 - 2000m. Didn't expect Said to have the speed to close the gap. Although he did have 1.43.86 800m speed.

[@KingLiopleurodon]

Where's @deano here?! Doesn't involve Coe, I suppose, so not worth his time. Nevertheless, one of the great races in track history. Cram had serious balls to take it on that hard from 2:35 at the bell. Then, Aouita's comeback at that pace was just astounding. It was clear at the top of the homestretch that the winner was destined for immortality, to be the first under 3:30.... look at Aouita's classic grimace and that amzing hip flex in the last 30m as he struggled mightily....Cram sensing Aouita closing near the line but kept a cool head, maintaining his upright regal form to shade the win.... I remember this was one of the most dramatic races of the 80s. A shame it wasn't a championship duel. These two never met in a global championship when both at their best, over the 1500 distance where they were so evenly matched.

[@keithbate9405]

they met in the first world champs in 1983 over 1500m. Cram went for home from 600m and held off Aquita and Ovett in the finishing straight (Cram's first ever victory over the latter)

[@jeremyhomewood9573]

You mean said went for it with 500 to go and CRAM followed !!!!!!

[@keithbate9405]

@@jeremyhomewood9573 Yes you are right in that race Aquita went first and Cram surged past him on the final bend . Shows that Cram could win from the front or from behind even against an all time great like Aquita

[@keithbate9405]

Cram got lucky twice then he also beat Aquita /Ovett/Scott etc at the 1983 World champs.

[@petyrkowalski9887]

Saw Cram live at a club champ meet in 1984 and I was trackside...he ran like a gazelle. Incredible.

[@fatbelly27]

That was one hell of a race

[@ianclarke3627]

Legend , following Ovett and Coe must of been like following elvis on stage and a lovely fella to boot.

[@LegendarySpaceRipper]

Fantastic to see that Cram had the opportunity to prove his class!

[@organisationwitholu2764]

Amazing runners and commentary

[@christianmusique7947]

Extraordinaire...C'était une époque hors norme pour le 1500 mètres...Sebastien coe...Cram, Aouita, el guerouje...Etc...On ne mesure pas ce qu'on doit à sébastien Co...les entrainements fartley, fractionnés...repris pour le vélo par exemple

[@moroccoal-adarisa2300]

A month later , Aouita Brooke that record in Germany lol

[@moroccoal-adarisa2300]

@@Sam-ys1rn fuck England

[@moroccoal-adarisa2300]

@bog standard Fuck England

[@saadel8129]

M O R O C C O AL - ADARISA true haha and he broke it 2 days after he nearly missed breaking Seb Cote’s mile world record. So basically, he broke it with heavy legs 🦵

[@shaunhalliwell2845]

@@moroccoal-adarisa2300 Fuck Morocco! Shithole!

[@eddielasowsky7777]

No one cares about your shitty country.

[@strawsonian]

What a finish. I wish they'd showed the finishing times but there can't have been much in it! EDIT: Just looked it up. Cram: 3 minutes 29.67; Aouita: 3 minutes 29.71. Aouita broke Cram's record five weeks later, clocking 3 minutes 29.45 seconds in Berlin.

[@tobylots]

The great Crammy ! Untouchable

[@chunder27]

the voices of my childhood and the men who made me run!

[@peezebeuponyou3774]

Coleman and Pickering- commentating's golden age. And a golden age for English middle distance running.

[@pml139]

Such a fantastic race

[@sylvainguinepain5624]

I was there! Never will forget!

[@davidshannon2860]

Aouita was too far off the pace for the whole of the race u can't give a athlete like cram a head start

[@samassek]

I agree that was a tactical mistake

[@warrencundy]

This field is superior to most Olympic 1500 m Fields Omar Khalifa Scott Cram Said Cruz omg what a last lap Cram at his peak 83-86 except 84 injured he must of run the last lap in like 52 seconds so Said was even quicker greatest finish I have ever seen in a Workd Record setting race from 800m 10000m

[@warrencundy]

Also Forgot Gonzales Spain World class talent 3:48 miler missed him in the 84 Olympics he actually beat Cram in a slow 1500m race with a last lap in like 49.4 secs Cram ran inside 50 too but Gonzalez just beat him Cram was never the same again when he lead with 400to go he won but this time he didn’t

[@Telssa1]

How great it was to be an athletics fan in those days,

[@robinevans3440]

Wot was the date of this??Remember watching this in hospital 1985..July sometime