Steve Cram - Commonwealth Games 1500m Final, Edinburgh 1986

Steve Cram high stepping his way to Commonwealth 1,500m Gold in 1986. John Gladwin's plan to spring a surprise 500m from the finish nearly pays off, but fails to stop Cram. However, Gladwin's plan is rewarded with the Silver Medal.
Commentators - David Coleman & Brendan Foster
BBC Coverage.

[@mandybodiam3904]

Decided it was about time my kids shared in the pride I had for my uncle John. Still has me in tears.

[@Hever73]

Wow! Steve Cram is one of the greatest middle distance runners ever!

[@lingolarker9318]

He didn’t dominate as much as Coe or Ovett overall so not a great IMHO. A very fine runner for sure.

[@JamieMonk]

Hugely impressive from Cram. Super fast last lap. Well done to Gladwin for having the guts to try!

[@jeffallinson8089]

The way Cram made up the distance and then opened up a huge gap on Gladwin was incredible and shows the gap between very good athletes and elite ones. At his best Steve was mind blowing.

[@petedunsford2915]

Loved the Jarrow Arrow. An absolute joy to watch in full flow. Won everything other than the one title that seems to define an athlete's career, which is dreadfully unfair. John Gladwin did a great job shaking an otherwise very dull race. My favourite bit is David Campbell's absolute jubliation in his bronze medal.

[@andybrown4124]

what a legend Steve Cram is....one of the great British athletes.

[@johmcg64]

Yes, that was a fun race!

[@erh9431]

It’s interesting how less than 20 years later you see Cram and Foster commentating together

[@Daz555Daz]

Incredible that really just one year on from this Cram was finished. Injured and never again returned to anything close to his best

[@harhailija6104]

Cram's last 500m took about 1 minute 3 seconds

[@APBCTechnique]

I don’t think anyone could beat cram on this day past or present. Without the wind he had a 142.0 flat in his legs for sure.

[@larega66]

Cram last lap in 51"5!Gladwin corageus was awarded with silver medal...

[@johmcg64]

Wow, that was a nice last lap!

[@simoneldridge94]

I can well remember this race as i was in the crowd -- it was blowing an absolute gale but the first 1000 meters were an absolute disgrace with no-one prepared to show any guts. Fair enough for Cram who could clearly win whatever the tactics but for most of them it just showed a complete lack of guts. Some barely broke 4.00 minutes for 1500!! But on the day Cram was absolutely supreme and it was a privilege to be in the crowd and witness such a gifted champion.

[@GOATAli]

What a stunning 800 from Cram. Unreal acceleration....

[@APBCTechnique]

Simply brilliant cram

[@ericgeorge5483]

Astonishing from Cram who didn't even look out of breath!!

[@Padicus70]

If you watch Cram in the 1980 Oly final as a snappy teenager you can see how in 5 years well he'd built himself up physically. He was so powerful in his prime and looks more like a 400m runner here.

[@apexpixel]

I don't think I've ever seen anyone run like that on the last lap

[@mathematics5573]

you muist be young. Cram ran like that all the time when he was at his best years. Cram set world records.

[@mathematics5573]

Dylan, Cram ran like that in 1983 at the AAA, at the worlds, in 1985 in his mile and 1500m world records, in 1986 at the europenns, and at many Dream mile races.

[@mathematics5573]

plus the Bislett games in 1985. he ran like that all the time.

[@mathematics5573]

and the European in 1982 as well.

[@mathematics5573]

Dylan, Cram set 5 world records. 1500m, mile, 2000m, 4 by 800m and aged 17 mile.

[@Hever73]

Great video, thanks for sharing it!

[@nickrussell5133]

John Gladwin used to work in a running shoe shop in Oxford Street London. I asked him what his middle distance times were. And because I hadn't heard of him, I dismissed him as a fantasist!! Not long after I was cheering him on in this race!!

[@ewaf88]

At that pace a stroll in the park for Crammy

[@michaelmcginley7930]

Amazing time in those windy conditions

[@tonydiaz2541]

Don't know which race is more exciting: this or the 2016 Olympics Men's 1500 final??

[@davewhiteatpsynthase]

Don't leave out Dave Campbell when you speak of last laps, look way back to where he started his kick to end up with the bronze. What can I say, I'm Canadian,eh!!

[@Revolver1981]

Dave White Oui oui monsieur.

[@stonekeeper86]

Cram looked unbeatable on this day.

[@APBCTechnique]

Stone Keeper agreed

[@deano27671]

It was a very weak field compared to Cram. Only one other in the race broke 3:35 that year (Hillardt with 3:34.5), and Cram was in 3:30 shape! Probably capable of 3:29 flat in the right race.

[@APBCTechnique]

@@deano27671oh dear Mr Coe was missing haha 😂

[@mathematics5573]

Brends's comment that Cram has awsome power, like Peter Snell, is a bit unfair. Steve Ovett also had awsome unparalled power, especially 100 to 200 m finishing speed. And he could produced it from 300m to 500m out if he wanted to as well.

[@APBCTechnique]

I think the 800m was amazing in wind and running off the pace like that. I think he had a sub 1.42 in him this day in Zurich. A 1986 Coe would have been wiped away by cram in Stuttgart with this form. I would love to 1986 cram face a 1981 Coe in a 800m WR I think sub 1.41 for both of them

[@mathematics5573]

I heard Cram once saying 1.41 was probably beyond him. He was actually surprised to run under 1.43. I reckon in the modern era with harder training, he'd have run 1.42.5 ish

[@tommytempo1]

He would have ran 1:42.5 in Edinburgh 1986, had there been no wind that day.

[@mathematics5573]

@@tommytempo1 I reckon he'd have just ducked under 1.43 if he'd been pushed in the race. . Easy saying it. Who knows. Possibly.

[@KevinBradshaw1972]

Very slow time for 1500m

[@francishooton3933]

it's the win not the times that matter in championships.

[@charliemagri1669]

All runners; class that is, have unique qualities and it's so easy to see that Cram is physically tougher than any other and who'd want a fight with him? Enough said, but how did Coe or Ovett ever beat him? More talent!

[@ericgeorge5483]

Bull, Cram was every bit as talented as Ovett and Coe.

[@francishooton3933]

actually, Coe and Ovett were better in the sense they won Olympic golds and sent more world records. But Cram won a lot. They were all amazing.

[@neathletics2439]

Because Ovett and Coe were phenomenal. As was Cram. Here's my recollection (apologies if it's a little oversimplified). Ovett was supreme 1977-79, Coe joined him at the very top 1980-81, before injury & illness put them out of action 1982-83. Having said that, Ovett returned in '83 to tactically make a mess of the inaugural World Championships, when he could have won and later broke the World Record. Enter Cram aka the Jarrow Arrow, who replaced Coe & Ovett 1982-83. He in turn was joined at the top again by Coe in 1984. Cram dominated 1985 and 1986 although Coe pipped Cram for the European 800m that year. After that all of the big three were fading stars and amazingly never won another major medal between them. However, Peter Elliott and Tom McKean then came out of their shadows and maintained GB's position at the top of the middle distance athletics until the end of the decade.

[@mathematics5573]

@@neathletics2439 Coe was at the very top from 1979 to 1981. and then 1984 again and 1986

[@davidshannon2860]

Eric George Coe was a level above

[@spandian8127]

Good run Cram 😎

[@mathematics5573]

he should have run the last lap in 44 seconds