Sebastian Coe 1500m Zurich 1984

Zurich Weltklasse track and field meeting 22 August 1984.
Sebastian Coe in sparkling form, shortly after retaining his Olympic title in Los Angeles.
Although intended as an attempt on Steve Ovett's then-world record, the pacemaking in the middle part of this race wasn't good enough to allow Coe to challenge the record. Despite this, it was a very impressive performance, and was one of the top 20 times ever recorded at that time.
Video recorded from original broadcast. No copyright infringement intended.

[@mikehopkins4040]

I raced against Coe in the national road relays many years ago.I took over in the lead on my leg but Coe came past me like a puffing billy after about two miles. He was so slight in stature but what a machine.

[@StephenDoty84]

Epic final lap -- perfect control and form down the stretch, one of the most aesthetic runners for form, I think.

[@kevinkilduff2064]

Truly poetry in motion. At his best and healthy Seb(and with respect to Said A., Cram, Ovett and El G) was the best ever at this distance. His final 150m kick was nonpareil.

[@SupersonicFlyTV]

I like the usage of the word "nonpareil". Not even Rudisha though ?

[@sundromos9456]

@@SupersonicFlyTV 1500? Rudisha? What?

[@shanegill5091]

Sorry. No. At their best over 1,500m it's el g, cram, Coe in that order. Coe better 800m than Cram. I'm not talking about who had most success, I'm saying who was most talented at 1,500/mile. I dare say Morcelli and Aoita should be included in this list.

[@4EyedAnimation]

I remembered every weekend it seemed like there was a big head to head back then.

[@FTMJarra]

@@shanegill5091 nah, Coe was the supreme middle distance runner, his kick was devastating, he could kick off a fast pace too. Cram is from my home town but Coe was always my favourite, when he was for and healthy he was pure poetry in motion, he floated over the track. Rudisha is incredible but for me a fit Coe with modern science would be unbeatable.!!

[@athleticscoach2012]

That last kick over the last 50m is awesome, the double kick

[@andyallen4492]

one of the greatest sportsmen of all time ; not just one of the greatest runners

[@marcwage]

Sebastian Coe.Doping,Doping,Doping, Doping.Pfui.

[@ChristopherCudworth]

I had the honor of jogging a few miles with Seb Coe on one of his visits to an American podiatrist. The contrast between his aching run that day and this burst of speed is astounding

[@peters6119]

This is after the Olympics when he is not fresh. They were right on his tail with 100m to go and then ... he just took off. And the commentator found the perfect word to describe how fresh he looked after the finish. He looked "untroubled". This was one of Coe's many brilliant races over a 5 year period from 1979-1984. He's still my all time favourite athlete and I had the pleasure of meeting him and chatting with him at a track meet this summer. He's an articulate, intelligent gentleman who still is humbled by any attention or adoration, but his accomplishments were legendary. Some professional athletes (especially some in the U.S.) could learn a lot from him about how to conduct themselves.

[@deano27671]

I concur. He was modest and self deprecating when I met him at a book signing in 2012. I also wrote to him 3 times when I was a teen, during his running career, and he replied each time.

[@garyskinner2422]

Sebastian coe use to run past my house in Fulham in the early 80s, he was soooo fast

[@redd605]

Even if the next split was 1.53 Coe would of had a chance of 3.30 of ovett

[@jimmurray4858]

Who was that podiatrist?

[@petelowson5481]

Coe was so strong in that race. The finish sprint was awesome. If the pace maker had done his job the world record would have been his. 😐

[@paracel72]

As a swede it was great to see-I remember that rivalry. And it was really races. Not 7 pacekeepers from Kenya to make one win. Those were real races.

[@alanwright2696]

My hero as I grew up.

[@mvvenkataraman]

I deeply thank you tube for this video In 1500 meters, Coe was my Romeo That young lad full of determination Bringing pride for his great Nation Moscow Olympics was boycotted The entire Cosmos sadly regretted Coe and Ovett boldly participated They were by medals appreciated.

[@simonedwards5564]

That is true BRILLIANT ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!

[@ewaf88]

Unbelievable acceleration of the last 100 - Thanks for post.

[@docpj72]

Great race and that was an epic summer for Coe-good American showing with Steve Scott in 2nd and Jim Spivey in 5th!

[@johnfrench9608]

The Coe kick! There was nothing like it.

[@isitrachelorj3953]

One of the most efficient, fluid, graceful runners of all time. More impressive than his stride, which is astounding for a man his size, is his rock solid upper body. Not an ounce of waisted energy.

[@qballshanratty1447]

Coe's kicks at 200m and then again at 100m to go are just devastating here. He decimated quality fields down the years with that weapon. When he was in good form and mentally right, he couldn't be touched. Wished he'd have raced more against Aouita and Cruz....

[@ewaf88]

Coe was a marvel who never quite reached his full potential - often due to viruses,. To in a way demonstrate how great he was - I was a semi decent sprinter back in the late 70's and 80's. I never broke 22 sec for the 200 but came close. If I ran 22.2 I was tired and felt as though I needed an oxygen tent. Seb would run near this speed in track training over 200 m and then walk back and do it over and over again. That's the difference between an also ran and someone who was miles ahead of his time in the 800. The only way I could have 'run' another 200 would have been on a stretcher or hanging on to a Zimmer frame.

[@richardmilliken5651]

Cruz blew the doors off Coe in the 800 meters at the 1984 Olympic Games!!!! It wasn't even close!!

[@APBCTechnique]

@@richardmilliken5651he wasn’t quite in form in LA, he was coming back from illness. Here in Zurich I think he was capable to beat Cruz

[@patsquires3654]

in my opinion the greatest middle distance runner of all time

[@djangorheinhardt]

Nope.Not while Herb Elliott is in the reckoning!

[@patsquires3654]

@@djangorheinhardt there is no question that herb elliot was a great middle distance runner, but seb coe broke an unbeliveably 11 world records, correct me if i am wrong but i think herb broke one or two miles behind coe

[@andrewdeacon8315]

@@djangorheinhardtFor the range 800m to 1 mile Coe all day long he held WRs at all 4 events briefly all 4 at the same time, I wouldn’t argue with Herb Elliot if you’re specifically talking 1500/mile though

[@djangorheinhardt]

@@andrewdeacon8315 Yes,Herb had a couple of half mile races which he lost .His specialist distance was mile / 1500 metres .Herb retired at 22 years old but in that time he won the Gold medal at Rome, and in 1958 ,before Rome had had broken the world mile record by 3 seconds,that Is 3 whole seconds .At 22 he was finished .It is strange but in retirement he stated that he found the whole scenario of competitive racing wholly unpleasant .He said he tried to remain aloof from the other runners and not be friendly ,no shaking hands before the race etc.He wanted to remain committed to beating these men,not hanging out with them .I feel sure that if Elliott had been born later amongst these super athletes running the mile ,with all the diets,training ,equipment and especially running tracks , I would still put O'l Herb at number one ,finishing first .He was that focused . D

[@MikeFloutier]

Seb Coe in full flight, what a glorious sight 🍾❤️

[@fredbeach2085]

He floats like a butterfly and runs like the wind.

[@noeldiamond2717]

Coe running style was poetry n motion

[@peterwaight2038]

+Noel Diamond Agreed! The ultimate middle distance running machine of his day.His style made it look so easy.

[@walterwalters154]

Coe and Lasse Viren.

[@scooters47]

Possibly the smoothest distance runner ever.

[@scooters47]

@@walterwalters154 I would have given almost anything to see that one.

[@walterwalters154]

@@scooters47 I personally saw both, including two world records by Coe. 😆

[@donny2327]

a 3.32 off a 1.55 at 800, amazing. Coe would have relished a harder last lap here. He was ready and full of confidence after his 2nd OG gold. As an aside, it's interesting that you can see a sign for diadora in green at the 120m to go mark; as later that year they managed to get him sign on their books, for the rest of his track career as it turned out. Two years later he would run his PB of 3.29 something in them. Great post.

[@thomasrice4078]

I can't imagine running at that speed for so long.

[@martinhill9261]

The atmosphere is crazy.The golden era of athletics.

[@billybussey]

So strong! What power at the end!

[@Grogster2007]

a majestic runner

[@marlin804]

Certainly a shame the pace slowed here on the 2nd lap. So sad for Coe that pacemaking was so abysmal in his 1500 WR attemps. With his strong finish here I think he was easily capable of sub 3:29 here. Robinson here once again messing things up...

[@carlpeterkirkebo2036]

Robinson was a total disaster as a pacemaker. Almost looks like he sabotaged the race on purpose.

[@davidbrandel4128]

Track and Field used to be such a high profile sport. What happened?

[@samslick9000]

PEDs

[@user-pk4sk2lc5g]

Сколько лет прошло, а я до сих пор восхищаюсь Себастьяном !

[@peteralainszpiriev4750]

Sebastian Coe nearly as always outplayed his opponents in head. Chessplayer on the Track! Too clever for other guys only from England they were dangerous. Bravo! Where is music of Vangelis!

[@APBCTechnique]

Coe was fitter here after LA olympics, He was in 3:27/28 shape if pacing was right. He look in sub 142.5 800m shape too. I wish he raced cruz this day in a fast first lap

[@richardmilliken5651]

Cruz would've blown the doors off Coe again!!!

[@APBCTechnique]

@@richardmilliken5651 it’s all relatively in the past now. A 1981 Coe 👍

[@LEIJONALEIJONA-ow8tm]

ONE OF MY IDOLS AND HEROES

[@garyskinner2422]

Yes me too and when I was around 13 he would run past my house often in Fulham whilst training

[@davidculliton2615]

Majestic the way he ran

[@raypurkissukwildlifeandlan5361]

Co at his very best....what an athlete he was.....awesome!!

[@drrunner]

Great final lap by Steve Scott, also!

[@charlesthorndike2702]

Last 400m in 53.1 Last 300m in 39.0 Last 200m in 25.7 Last 100m in 12.4 Brilliant

[@Gnomebe]

I heard he went 11 seconds once.

[@charlesthorndike2702]

@@Gnomebe Yup, his fastest last 100m in an 800m race was a blistering 11.3 (Helsinki 1981)

[@Gnomebe]

@@charlesthorndike2702 As a former runner and a physiologist, that is amazing. One of my favorite distance runners. I like Steve Ovett similarly.

[@charlesthorndike2702]

@@Gnomebe Agreed. Simply amazing. When it comes to capabilities in distances from 400m up to the mile, no one comes remotely close to Coe.

[@human777]

So smooth

[@gowers1972]

That last 100m was under 12.5, as best I could time it from the video. Coe sure made that look easy.

[@booklover3959]

According to a video of Coe instructing young runners (in his own words) he stated that he practiced switching to sprinting mode off of race pace. According to that theory he would have used this to surge at the end. Of course he had to have the strength and stamina to back it up. Coe claims that he studied sprinting form and he demonstrates it in the video. If this is true then his coach and himself were thinking broadly to find all the tools that would work.

[@LPCLASSICAL]

I remember watching this in 1984 on television. I had in my mind 2 things. One was - Coe was in great form and should set a new WR. The other was - this is a class field. Steve Scott, a failure in LA - would be wanting to defeat Coe as he had done in 1983. There were other class runners in the field who might take Coe if he was not on top form. I am sure Coe was thinking the same and like me and many of his fans - he probably put as a top priority winning the race. He probably felt like he was in super form and relied on Robinson to get him to an even 1.50/51 at 800. But this did not happen - Robinson screwed up yet again - perhaps deliberately as he surely knew how to run an even 1.50 800M - remember how he went through 400 in 52.5 in Stockholm 81 - wrecking what should have been a certain first sub 3.30. A 1979 Coe as he was in Zurich would have taken it on at 800 as he more or less felt nobody (except) Ovett could touch him at that time. But 1983 and his defeat to Scott - impressive times from other athletes - left Coe with a niggling feeling he might lose the race if he goes for it at 800. He might just fade and yield to an exultant Steve Scott - marring his olympic gold winning season. So I think at 800 Coe decided to employ tactics most likely to win the race - but a strategy that would leave him with little chance of a WR and this is what happened. Had he run flat out over the last 700M he would have had the WR as he had the form. Coe ran some fine races over the next few years but this was really the last one where he was probably in 1980/81 form.

[@deano27671]

I agree with practically all of that Stuart. I think the 81 race in Stockholm, in which he went off way too fast and was so far ahead of a great field for most of the race, affected him psychologically. He had to work hard over the last lap to win by about 15m, although the field were closing. In that race Robinson actually went through 400m in 51.5, with Coe already 7m behind in 52.4. I think that race, compounded with his defeats when ill in 83, caused Coe to worry about putting himself in that vulnerable position again. I have read from several sources that Andy Norman put Robinson up to wrecking Coe's chances in Stockholm, as he was worried Coe would put the record out of sight for his athlete, Ovett!? Strange how Robinson was used by Norman and Ovett a few weeks later in Steve's mile WR in Koblenz, where the American this time managed to deliver a 56 and 1:53 pacing! As you rightly state, had Robinson backed up his first lap of 55 (right on the money) with a 1:51 (56 second lap), the rest of the field would already have dropped off the pace, and Coe would have had more confidence in going all out over the last 700m. He certainly was in sub 3:30 shape in this Zurich race in 84, and I think he was capable of 3:28 that night.

[@VADELMAHILLO-cw7jm]

MY IDOL

[@redd605]

That was so frustrating for coe needed Byers to be his pacemaker in Sweden and Zurich ,that must b his one regret in the best shape since 1981,and no world record ,and never come close again until 1989 when he miss the world by 2-4 tenth and British record of cram by 10 th of a sec in Italy

[@deano27671]

It was in Rieti 1986 that he almost broke the 1500m WR with 3:29.77, not 89. Would have broken it too had the pacer, Chesire, not strangely spurted to the front with 450m to go and then slowed the pace down, causing Coe to check his stride for half a dozen strides and then gone wide round the bend to pass him.

[@markblow1966]

Oh to hear the great Ron Pickering’s voice again 😢

[@deano27671]

Coe's best time though, set in 86 (3:29.77) still puts him in the fastest top 20 men ever! That's a measure of how good he was. His pb would have ranked him No. 1 last year, 25 years later. In this Zurich race Robinson messed up any fast times with a 60.9 2nd lap. Coe's last 300 (39.0) and last 100m (12.5) showed he had loads left. Was certainly capable of running way below 3:30 that night in Zurich. Great quality video. Cheers!

[@figo88figo]

of course, in a monaco of today, 327,

[@APBCTechnique]

Coe’s 1500m time is not in the top 30 nowadays. Even Sydney MAREE and Nick Willis is ahead of Coe’s 1500m. Times have moved on Coe really is a ‘has been’ we’ve got a 19 years old teenagers running 3:28. Enough nut-hugging Deano

[@deano27671]

@@APBCTechnique LOL. Go back under your bridge! He is actually No. 30 on the alltime list, the same position as Maree, who is clearly NOT AHEAD of Coe, as you claim. So, yes he is in the top 30. Of those ahead on the list, 5 have been busted for drug use, so they shouldn't even be counted. We have 1 teenager (that is singular, not plural) currently running 3:28, and that is on Monaco's track, which is considerably faster than anything Coe would have run on 35+ years ago. In fact 15 of the 29 athletes who have run faster times, did so on the Monaco track. Those athletes are on average 2 secs slower on the rest of the world's tracks. E.g. Nick Willis's fastest 4 times were all set in Monaco, and he hasn't managed to break 3:32 on any other track during his entire career! And he has certainly never finished a 3:32 with a 39.0 last 300m and 12.4 last 100m as Coe did in this race. Anyone with an ounce of knowledge about the history of the event would know that such finishing splits, looking so easy in achieving them, signify a lot of unused energy and the ability to have run much faster. Coe was capable of 3:28 that day, and that isn't even considering the faster shoes and tracks of today. And none of those above him have 2 Olympic golds over 1500m or three mile world records, so I think Coe is pretty satisfied being such a has been, don't you! You've made 3 glaring mistakes with your post. At least get some facts correct if you insist on trolling.

[@APBCTechnique]

@@deano27671 heard it all before from you. Knew you’d take the bate and NUT-HUG your Mr Coe. By the way MAREE ran his time 1 year before Coe in 85, so he’s ahead of Coe actually to get your facts straight mate. Coe was too busy being sick to be known as a greatest. Like I say only 2 fast 800’s in his whole up and down career. More down than up. (This Zurich run was his last show of decent form in his career) probably capable of running sub 3:28 but he didn’t)

[@danielbatten1837]

No-one could match Coe for speed change aggression

[@deano27671]

Coe didn't go past Robinson when he slowed down because the pack werstill with Coe and it would have put him in a vulnerable position and as a rabbit for the rest of the field! To lead for 1100m is a very tall order. A top notch venue like Zurich should be able to put together decent pace up to at least 800m and really 1100m. If Robinson had continued to 800 in 1:52, most of the pack would have fallen back and he'd have been able to go all out for remaining 700

[@AmericusMaximus]

Those were the days.

[@johnlarocco3348]

One of the all time Great races ever. Mr. Coe is a professional hit man waiting to Kill it on the last lap. Pure runner Legs of Steel and Lungs of turbocharged Oxygen.

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

Can you imagine what records Coe could have set if he had decent pace setters? You've just watched the greatest runner of all time!!!

[@nc8186]

Eh he was good in an era rampant with EPO usage lol. He was not better than el g

[@Lebowski53]

@@nc8186 Eh? EPO was the 2000s, exactly when El g was running. That’s why no one can come near his records. Even the runners finishing third and forth in that era were faster than Coe et al. They were all on it.

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

@@nc8186 You're 100% wrong. EPO was used throughout ElG's period of racing ( not Coes) and with the improvement in ElG's times, from being utterly thrashed by Morceli, to becoming the fastest ever, seems just about impossible without the help of EPO. 👍

[@boubkermaachi2752]

Great race, regarding WR El guerrouj said it was possible for him at a time to go under 3:25, with chance Coe and Hicham times could be better

[@paxtonledocmili2286]

Quel immense champion !!!

[@canadianfreedom7849]

It’s interesting how many runners from this race would pass today’s doping test

[@glensmall9194]

Against the best in the World. Hoo wah. Seb is all class always.

[@201081hero]

I gather that Aouita wanted to run in this race too but was "forced" into the mile race - a pity that because it would've been quite a race..

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

There would only have been 1 winner and it would have been an easy night's work for Coe. No-one beats him in this form from the past or present!!!

[@jamezkpal2361]

I wish there was a designated pacemaker in championship events.

[@MarceloJulianodossantos]

Retrospecte Olimpíadas Global 2023😮😮😮😮

[@ewaf88]

The days when David had to use a telephone box for his commentary

[@glywnniswells9480]

Steve Ovette at his peak was unbeatable he just was not as hungry as Coe,also his accident destroyed his knee.

[@gakaface]

It's great watching this race again. Having just won in LA, this was Coe's chance to recapture the world record and set the bar really high. His finishing form here shows he was easily capable. But, as Deano says, there again was that idiot pace maker James Robinson, screwing up the whole attempt. However, as others have said in the comments, why didn't Coe go for it when he knew the pace wasn't good enough? There was a lot of psychological history which can now be seen in Coe's performances, and that goes back to 1978 when he was beaten by Steve Ovett in Prague. After that he lost confidence, and changed his training and tactics. This lost him the 800m but won him the 1500m in Moscow. But the underlying change was he always doubted his ability, which is why, even in this race, where he is so dominant, and 10m metres in front in the home straight, he is still looking over his shoulder, frightened someone is going to run past him. Back in 1984, we can now calculate, it would have been easy for him to have taken the world record in this race, even off a 60 second second lap, if he had decided to go for it with 600m to go. But he did not. He just jogged it for the next 200m. Such a great shame and a wasted opportunity. He never had this kind of commanding form again, even though he did run two and a bit seconds faster in his fine 3:29.77 in Rieti in 1986. The other interesting notes on Coe is he never, ever got to race against Juantorena over 800m, nor Aouita over 1500m or the mile.

[@deano27671]

+gakaface I agree with some of this. I do think he lacked a bit of confidence over 1500 to go it alone from a long way out, but think you put too much influence on the Prague 800. Remember he went from a long way out the following year to break 3 world records. He clearly wasn't lacking confidence there. I think the Stockholm 1500 in 81 was more significant in playing with his head in the longer distances. In that race, he went with the suicidal early pace(he went through 400 in 52.4, 800 in 1:49.1), following Robinson, and although he was 40m in front of the rest of a world class field at one stage, he saw that lead dwindle to 10m at the finish. He rightly felt wrecked at the end of that race, but must have been aware that had there been another 100m (a mile race) he would probably have been caught. He has stated that he was in the best form of the year in that race and should have ruptured the WR down from 3:31.36 to 3:28. However, by the time of the 2 mile world records 6 weeks later, there is a real reluctance to hurt himself on laps 2 and 3, choosing to stay with the (fading) rabbit in both cases, and leaving enough left for a fact last 100m in case there is company. I also think his 4 unexpected losses in 83, when ill, probably affected him a bit in the 84 & 85 seasons, especially when he knew he wasn't in peak form.

[@redrum4100]

+deano27671 "think you put too much influence on the Prague 800. Remember he went from a long way out the following year to break 3 world records. He clearly wasn't lacking confidence there." Championships are a totally different animal. I agree with gakaface about Prague.

[@deano27671]

+Red Rum It's all about knowing what sort of form you are in. He had quite a few injury problems in 78 leading up to Prague, and went down with a stomach bug when he arrived there. If you look at him he was quite a bit lighter than at the same stage a year later. He is on record as saying that he and his dad didn't feel he was capable of beating Ovett in Prague and it was planned for him to go out hard "and see what the bas***ds are made of". He was aiming for 50.0 - 50.5, but over cooked it when he found himself fighting for the lead with Beyer. Coe's confidence was very much based on his physical form. He knew he was a far better athlete in Moscow and knew he was a better 2 lap runner than Ovett. I do agree that he was possibly affected a bit in the Moscow 800 by memories of what happened in Prague, but I think it being his first Olympics (Ovett had already been to Montreal in 76) was more significant in his lacklustre performance in the 8. I think he just froze. He was back to front running (not all out) in the European 800 in 82, so I don't think Prague was still on his mind by then. He won the European and World Cup 800's easily in 81 from the front.

[@gakaface]

+deano27671 Hi Deano, I've found a quote in Coe's book, "Running Free", p55-56, [David Miller] "My opinion is that the result in Prague did more than anything, when the time came, to persuade Peter and Seb NOT to run from the front in Moscow - when the justification for doing so was in fact far greater". The page continues: [Peter Coe] "Front running would always be risky and that the man with the basic speed would always be safer running from the back." This is the point, the decision, at which Coe changed from being a club runner to being a championship runner. It's the decision at which team Coe said, "do we want fast times or do we want to win the big events in the way Ovett wins big events?" So yes, the Prague tactics, even though they were right, and even though Coe wasn't 100% because he got injured when he sprained his ankle - which has to be disregarded as he subsequently went on to run 1:44.26 in Brussels two weeks before Prague, he was beaten fair and square by Ovett (though the same can't for certain be said of Beyer, allegedly), should have not affected him and caused such a dramatic change in tactics. But it did affect him and it did cause a change in training and tactics. What happened in 1979 when he broke the 3 WRs, is irrelevant to the above because, if we look at them race by race, the 800m he was running against mediocre opposition, in the mile he wasn't even going for the WR ( p72, "throughout the final lap Coe was continually looking over his sholder." [Coe] "I was afraid someone would come surging up... that a big kicker would come through. When I looked back, it was fear."), and in the 1500m he rendered the opposition impotent after the first lap of 54.4. What really was significant was his approach in the championship races, and the races that really mattered in Coe's mind. In these he had to be convincing, demonstrate a deadly finish and gain a psychological advantage over Ovett and the distant pack (Boit, Walker, etc). There's no doubt this held him down in terms of his record-breaking achievements; he should have undoubtedly run 1:41:00 for 800m, 3:27- 3:28 for 1500m, and in the 1979 mile, he ran a 56.8 last lap when he could have easily ran a 53 lap to give a 3:46 mile. However, this was at a trade-off to win more medals. Was it worth it? Yes, it probably was. Even if it cost him the Moscow 800m? That's probably his biggest regret - he wanted it all. But now he'd probably not have it any other way. What a story!

[@deano27671]

Great analysis. I agree with lots of it. I think he was unfulfilled somewhat in terms of the best times he was capable of. I agree with your suggestion of 1:41.0 and 3:27/28, which is worth about 3:44 for a mile. Ironically, I think he would have won the 800 in Moscow had he employed the same tactics he used in Prague. While the Oslo field for the 800 in 79 wasn't great, Boit was in it, and he was probably the most consistent 800 runner from the previous 4 seasons. Thanks for the quotes from Running Free. I'll have to check it out again sometime. 😀

[@bemopacific7076]

In the end, Coe of course had to be more concerned with winning, and then a possible record being a secondary concern. Even after the boatload of races Coe had at the Olympics, this shows he was capable of a record that day. When Coe was fit, his homestretch kick was unmatchable. And again we have James Robinson possibly sabotaging a record attempt by Coe. Robinson made some remarks that always had me thinking he didn't like Coe or that he was at least jealous of Coe. Back to this race, while I don't think Coe was at his best (in comparison to his 1981 form), he was still capable of a record on this night. In '81 he and Ovett were certainly capable of sub 3:30. I have to admit I believe Cram had more potential over a 1500 or a mile than either of them, but in the end no matter how people want to argue, none of the big three actually reached their full potential over the 1500 or mile, and while Coe came close to his potential in the 800 he probably could have taken the record lower if he'd bothered running in some rabbited races over two laps throughout the summer of '81. I always thought if Coe had concentrated purely on the 800 in his career he'd have hit 1:40.5 - 1:40.8 back then. Laugh if you want to.

[@deano27671]

I think Coe was capable of 3:27 high/3:28 flat in 81 and pretty close to that too here in 84. I think Ovett could have run 3:29 low in 80-81 and Cram somewhere in between.

[@bemopacific7076]

I think Cram at his peak was capable of 3:27 low, maybe high 3:26. I think he had more potential at the 1500 than the Big Two. However, in the 800 Coe at his best was too much for either of the Steves. For what it's worth, I don't think anyone has broken 3:27 while clean. The sport was ruined by the introduction of EPO combined with political correctness. I won't get into that here, but I'm sure you know what I mean. Thanks for replying.

[@jean-francoisbrieuc705]

I totally agree

[@chosen240]

nice very nice :D

[@samson9098]

One of idols. Tried to be like him.. But....

[@joseojos8599]

Dios mio como corren saludos

[@Jimmy911ism]

I could be wrong, but I doubt that black runner who took the lead was a deliberate pacesetter. It looked like he decided 'the way to beat this guy is to break his heart'. I initially thought he wanted to get the lead to slow the pace, but he accelerated. And I doubt Coe was down with chasing at all; he had no choice due to the new leader's ridiculous early pace.

[@jean-lucberge4791]

la Classe hier la Classe encore aujourd'hui

[@jeremyhomewood9573]

Stockholm 1981 !!!!!!! Zurich 1984 !!!!!! Every time james Robinson fucked it up every time !!!!!!!! Coe DEFINITELY was in sub 3:30 shape here another missed opportunity !!!!!! He had to wait until 1986 to run 3:29 ???????!!!!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable !!!!!!!!

[@mathematics5573]

Coe should have run it in 3:24.

[@figo88figo]

with 3 guys like scott pacing 150 to the half, this coe would be down with elg.

[@varadijozsef6413]

Now HE is your Boss .Pleas look that.!!!Running.

[@JGlennFL]

Steve Scott was a great runner. But had the bad luck to have Coe at his peak as his rival.

[@iga279]

were cameras so bad in those days cause the image quality is atrocious?

[@johnmc3862]

Wow, how many time was Steve Scott beaten by Coe/Ovett etc.

[@LatrellHunter]

this makes me wonder if Coe had a better kick back then than Manzano does now.

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

No-one past or present has run faster in the last 100 metres of a 1500 metre race @ the highest level. NO-ONE EVER!!!!!!!

[@richardmilliken5651]

@@KryptonitetoallBS Jim Ryun at Dusseldorf ran 11.4 in the last 100 meters and 49.8 for the last 400 meters!!!

[@maltfusion6743]

For these rabbit races these days my father said Lasse Viren would have run a 26:30 10 kilometer for world record in 1972.

[@djangorheinhardt]

Hmmmmm, a slight shuffling of discomfort after reading your post ! !

[@user-yf3ti8ry2v]

Peter Snell would give this Champion a go 3x Olympic Champion Remember never ran on a synthetic track only Cinders & Grass 1:44 800m on Grass 1962 still a good time 60 years later tacks & shoes worth at least 1 sec a lap so his 800m is down to 1:41-1:42 which is Coe Territory also 5 Major Finals in his Career for 5 wins the Double at both the Commonwealth Games & the Olympic Games never been done before or Since could ran last 200m as fast as Coe don’t believe me have a look at 1964 1500m devastating kick !

[@scooters47]

You notice Ovette wasn't waving to the crowd this time.

[@johnbowden1140]

Well since ovett wasn't in the fit it understandable

[@NoesKicker]

I'm curious why Coe didn't pass robinson when he slowed down. Coe, being a professional runner, knows what a 60 second quarter feels like and should have taken initiative when robinson slowed down. Anyway, my point is that its not robinson's fault that coe didn't run as fast as he could have. Great race none the less.

[@simonedwards5564]

53,1 last lap of 2:39 at the bell!!!!!!!!!! Hello??? Coe WAS capable of 3:28/3:29=@ And ACHIEVED THIS when,,, WELL past his best 2years later when NEARLY 30 years old !!!!!!!!!!

[@SunnyKid975]

You are right deano - Coe had loads left and could easily have broken the WR if there was better pacing on the 2nd and 3rd laps. If only we could have seen a 1500 with Coe and EL G - now that would be something.

[@glywnniswells9480]

jkm hoffman Any pace maker capable of being up there for a 3rd lap is going to be racing for himself.

[@michaelhughes8413]

"and David Coleman is going away at 180m!!!!..."

[@mysteriousdoge1298]

Great pacemaking, 4 seconds worse than planned :)

[@jeremyhomewood7740]

You're fired! Your title says it all for james Robinson !!!!!!!!! Fukkin useless !!!!!!!!! JAMES??? YOUR FIRED !!!!!!!!!!! Zombie apocalyptic pacemaking !!!!!!!!!!

[@emerybayblues]

Who was the black runner who was leading & then dropped out into the grass?

[@deano27671]

James Robinson, 800m runner. A (not very good) rabbit, here!

[@jeremyhomewood7740]

Totally fukkin shit !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@johnpontes812]

He had way under 3min 30 in his legs there I think hhat could have been a 3.27 night way too mucj spring in the step at the end.

[@rustydaines6859]

How old was Coe in this race?

[@deano27671]

+Rusty Daines He was 27, about 1 month shy of his 28th b'day.

[@redrum4100]

+Rusty Daines 27 (birth date September 29, 1956).

Should have carried on running and gone for the 3000m WR...

[@krakhour2]

Cram comes on in 1986 to do great things. They make out like cram is not a factor in 84..

[@mdplez]

When you see how poorly the pacesetter performed in this race, you gain a greater appreciation of just how good Eric Sowinski is and why he is so much in demand.

[@malcolmabram2957]

When ay school I once ran a race with Coe in it. I didn't beat him.

[@joemcm1]

he destroyed that lot-maybe he was the best,im still ovett tho

[@oscarlasaosavalencia6450]

Tenia un final demoledor

[@bennyandersen742]

i am not gay, but sebastian coe had a sexy style... no ...i am NOT gay ;-)

[@RenegadeDuckMan]

That ENTIRE field was much faster than the winner of this last Olympics. If Kiprop could've just taken the lead early on in Rio he could've demolished the rest of the field and Centrowitz would have no chance. I honestly hate seeing one of the best runners in the world getting bullied like that and not even placing at the end - just because the race was slowed down and run so tactically. These 1500m runners at the Olympics need to just go for it and separate themselves from the pack, I know it can be risky but the point of the Olympics is to set new records on the biggest stage ever for all to see - and running in a pack is really risky too because you get shoved and can trip and fall! The runners back in these days had much more heart and gave it all they got - even at the Olympics.

[@isaacmarikko]

The runners ran faster back then (particularly in the 1980's and 90's ) because they took stronger drugs than runners today!!!

[@daeuri]

If Kiprop was healthy, he would have been untouchable at Rio, but I believe he was injured. Such a shame since he was the best 1500 runner since El Gherrouj retired.

[@gakaface]

Interesting comment, RenegadeDuck. Yes, the 1500m at Rio was disappointing and Matthew Centrowitz was a mediocre winner on that occasion. However, when you look at him and the circumstances of the race a little more closely, you may appreciate it a little more. Whilst the first 2 3/4 circuits were painfully slow, the last lap was the fastest last lap in a 1500m, ever, by a big, big margin. And Matthew Centrowitz is a credible championship performer having won medals at the World Championships indoors and outdoors. What makes athletics so interesting is just what you have expressed in your frustration above, and that's its total unpredictability. Championship races tend to be tactical, with a sprint finish at the end. Some elite athletes don't train to take this into account, and often fail to achieve the results expected of them. So, for example, in Rio, you had athletes like Kiprop, and others, who had run under 3:30, being out kicked by a 3:34 athlete in Centrowitz, because he had specifically trained for that. So it's not the Centrowitz should be criticised, it is that the rest should be, for running like a bunch of hacks. There are others though, that do exactly what you say, and "go for it". Look up Filbert Bayi 1974 Commonwealth Games to see how it should be done! Also watch Hicham El Guerrouj in the 1500m. In other distances, Usain Bolt's 100m, and 200m WRs in 2009, Seb Coe's 800m and 1000m WRs in 1981, David Rudisha's 800m WR in 2012, and Wayde Van Niekerk's WR in the 400m in Rio. They all went out with absolute intent on tackling the WR and put everything down on the track. It's not risky if you are the best athlete.

[@fontane007]

Coe and Daley Thompson were my childhood sporting heroes

[@kupusarbalija509]

I se him. Hi come to.my schole

[@adamd4390]

How good would he of been with a proper coach

[@deano27671]

His father was a proper coach! He was ahead of his time with some of his ideas.

[@joemcm1]

ha,his coach made him what he was-now imagine ovett with peter coe as his coach...

[@deano27671]

There are various accounts of what happened. Coe said he was happy to race Aouita, but he wouldn't then make a record attempt. Brugger, the meet organizer, wanted a WR more than a head to head. Considering this, you'd have thought he'd have gotten a better pace maker than Robinson, who was far too slow on second lap. He was the same idiot who ran a 51.5 first lap in Coe's 1500 Wr attempt in 81! Why they chose him again I have no idea!?

[@kazukazu3603]

so!what

[@MrCrig]

To Be fair to Seb this wasn’t a strong field.... The likes of Mike Boit was well past his best!

[@oshawaxpress]

@coolro- Really, so where's your evidence? Why not provide so we can all see? Coe was a wonderful athlete, whereas you sir, are merely a liar.

[@imirish4702]

Rudisha would beat him

[@deano27671]

Certainly not over 1500m! Or over 1000m. If peak Rudisha from 2012 ran against peak Coe from 81 over 800m, it would be very close.

[@richardmilliken5651]

@@deano27671 Cruz blew the doors off Coe in the 84 Olympic 800 meters!!!! No excuses please!!!