Joaquim Cruz Sebastian Coe Steve Ovett 1984 Olympic 800M Final

Coe and Ovett go in the LA final won by Joaquim Cruz of Brazil

[@jamescarpenter6585]

Ovett did his winter training in Australia and came back honed to perfection. Early season he travelled to Paris for a roadrace (1 mile) beating a quality field that included the Spanish guy (whose name alludes me) that got the bronze in the ‘84 Olympic 1500. Shortly before the Olympics Ovett suffered a bout of Bronchitis which seemed to clear up before the games. For the next couple of years he suffered with health and injuries which affected his ability to perform at his optimum but he still had World class quality in his legs when fit. After L.A. he seemed to always suffer in the heat, in 1986 he strolled to victory in the Commonwealth 5,000 beating Jack Buckner comprehensively, later that year in the European Championships he pulled up in the final of the 5,000 suffering from the heat…The winner of that race was Jack Buckner.

[@jamescarpenter6585]

@@bfc3057thanks, as I get older…well you get the picture 😂

[@Ritchiemac]

Cruz was unstoppable that year he just missed Coe's 800mWR by a tiny amount you should do a review of that race it's on u tube! Keep the videos coming. 👍🏻

[@deano27671]

Stuart, what perhaps you should have mentioned is that at the start of the home straight, just as he was about to launch his kick, he clashed elbows with Earl Jones. This happened two or three times and put him off his stride. It was shown clearly at the time by the BBC from a head on shot down the home straight. Notice that by the time he recovers, Cruz has pulled another 2m away. Also, in the last 30-40m, Coe is able to pull clear of Jones, having recovered. He wouldn't have caught Cruz on the day, but those clashes cost him 2 - 3m and about 0.3 secs. Also, I worked out Coe ran a conservative (parden the pun) 10m extra than 800m on the bends. Without this he was in 1:42 low form. Cruz himself ran about 5m extra on the bends.

[@goldenmiddledistanceraces5929]

I was struggling to see what was going on due to the film quality. Thanks for pointing that out. I suppose Cruz has to be commended for taking a tactically strong position where there was nobody who could impede him. I am surprised that athletes who are in the top class are often prepared to get into physical duels in packs rather that assert themselves with their superior ability at or near the front.

[@gowers1972]

I think Coe could have been much closer to Cruz by being more aggressive from the start. He almost set himself up for another Moscow blunder, but luckily he was able to move up towards the end of the first lap. He did run much of the race in the outside of lane 1, and that cost him several yards. In many of Coe's best races, he got out front early, and stayed in the inside of lane 1. Earl Jones was on the inside for nearly the whole race (was in Lane 1 at the start).

[@Andrew-m5p4s]

Coe just wasn't fit enough on the day

[@billybud9557]

Coe and Kipketer are the two best 800 men to never win the Games at this distance. Good vid.

[@RichP879]

A shout for Billy Konchellah as well, WC in 1987 and 1991.

[@volkerracho9481]

Winner of the US olympic trails was Earl Jones! Johnny Gray finished second (both with the same time of 1:43,76 min).

[@andrewdeacon8315]

No doubt Coe ran himself into prime form for the 1500m final over the course of these 7 races, a post LA meeting with Cruz over 800m would have been fascinating. Coe ran a closer 2nd to Cruz in 85 1:42.6ish to 1:43.07 , I think prime Coe would of tried to lead Cruz at the bell which he didn’t manage or have the confidence to in these races

[@johnmc3862]

What did Cruz do the last 100m in?!?

[@josephibe7232]

Great clash. I think Cruz was probably the only athlete from that era who could have challenged Coe over the 800m at his best. Such a shame Coe was still a little short of his form in 81.

[@gowers1972]

I believe the first clash between Coe and Cruz was at the 1981 World Cup in Rome -- Coe was at his best, but Cruz was very young and didn't run well tactically. Here is the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5XdZH6Of82oaa8. Towards the end of the video (after the race), Coe takes a moment to speak to Cruz.

[@goldenmiddledistanceraces5929]

thanks - I did not realize Cruz was in that race. Will be reviewing it soon.

[@deano27671]

Yes, much was expected of Cruz in that World Cup race in Rome, as he had earlier in the 81 season broken the World Junior record (1:44.3). Had Coe been in his 81 form in LA then I think Coe would have won it, even though he ran quite a bit wide.

[@goldenmiddledistanceraces5929]

@@rainiersousa6464 OK I am muting you from my channel because you are spamming my pages with Cruz biography. I do not allow runner biographies to be posted. Go and start your own Cruz celebration channel. Coe at his best would have blown Cruz off the track.

[@RichP879]

In this final, sadly Steve Ovett limps over the line in 1:52.28 and then is hospitalised. However he does, as I think you allude you, record his own personal best in the semi-final to just about reach the final at 1.44.81.

[@goldenmiddledistanceraces5929]

His PB is 1.44 dead more or less but inside 1.45 was certainly an excellent time for him given the conditions and shows he was in very good form.

[@jamescarpenter6585]

Did Coe ever run 1.43 again?…after ‘84…genuine question

[@goldenmiddledistanceraces5929]

Not sure. In 86 he had 1.44 in his Euro gold. So from 1978 to 1984 he was running times inside of 1.44 - 6 years - not a bad stretch of time to be a sub 1.44 800M runner. Compare that with the Career of Cruz or Juantorena.

[@goldenmiddledistanceraces5929]

ok. I asked Deano and he provided these stats: 1:43.07 in 85, 1:43.93 in 88 and 1:43.38 in 89.

[@Colster1001]

He doesn’t overhaul Gray, he overhauls Jones!

[@goldenmiddledistanceraces5929]

Thank you for the correction!

[@goldenmiddledistanceraces5929]

@@rainiersousa6464 your posts about Cruz have been deleted as I do not allow runner bios to be posted on my channel.

[@joemcm1]

cruz too good on the day,i think ovett would have had got bronze but we dont know what sort of race it would have been with a fit ovett in it(if it was slow and tactical we would have had the sprint finish we all wanted to see-ovett and coe full pelt from 200 who knows who would have won) steve would possibly have won the gold in the 1500 but for illness-just my opinion tho.once again we were robbed of ever really knowing

[@degreeO]

Coe passes Jones, not Gray. I think the commentator has a race issue.

[@goldenmiddledistanceraces5929]

I make errors with white runners too. If you accuse me of race issues I will frankly silence you from my channel.

[@jennysmith8835]

@@goldenmiddledistanceraces5929 i think the poster is just being childish, trying to get a rise, best to ignore. I loved the Coe/ Ovett era, Steve O was my favourite as he seemed more rebellious, !!! also later additions, Cram, Elliot, etc, often went to CP to watch them, really was the golden era of middle distance in GB. thanks for putting this on

[@markculshaw224]

Joker!!

[@jerryoshea3116]

Anyone can make a simple error...Not every situation has to have a racial component,unless of course u are looking to make that relevant!

[@RichP879]

David Coleman was well known, affectionately, for mistakes, Colemanballs as they were known ;) - I don't believe for one moment there's a race issue here.