Steve Cram Recalls the Coe-Ovett Clash at the 1980 Moscow Olympics

Steve Cram Recalls the Coe-Ovett Clash at the 1980 Moscow Olympics

[@denis888red]

To this day, I never looked forward to one Olympic event more.

[@exessex3522]

In the 1984 1500 m final, GB had three different athletes: the Olympic champion, world champion and world record holder. Great days!

[@jeffallinson8089]

Lets not forget how great Cram was too. Astonishing athlete.

[@davidspencer8233]

Indeed yes 👍

[@steffanhoffmann8937]

I liked the way Ovett congratulated Coe at the end. Both smiling. Ovett knew he had hurt Coe taking the 800m and I think he admired the way Coe turned the tables and took his expected double off him.

[@stifflerrussell2868]

i did the 1984 national cross country in newark, and cram was running in the seniors for training i finished 113 in the youths and was well chuffed,and met steve and eamon after top blokes

[@Revolver1981]

Stiffler Russell 👹👹👹

[@siypic]

Eamon Martin?

[@jimmason8502]

Coe was my hero growing up in the late 70s and 80s (I was 18 when he won in 1984). Ovett was by far the more versatile runner from 800-5000m and Cram was more fun to watch (incredible form). But I wanted to be Coe so bad lol. Even today 1,500 is my favorite event to race

[@davidspencer8233]

Nice documentary with gentleman Steve Cram 👍

[@mariadacre5875]

Steve Cram is such a lovely guy, down to earth and a gentleman.

[@brettwilkinson9529]

Politics need to stay out of sport.Sport is the most marvelous way for humans to express themselves and the Olympics was designed for that very reason. America should have gone to Moscow in 1980.Jimmy Carter didn't know what the hell he was talking about.

[@jimmason8502]

Carter was a terrible President

[@rafflesxyz4800]

Didn't realise he was such a space cadet at 19.

[@albertbrooksjr.1435]

One of the worst mistakes the United States ever made as nation was the boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics. That decision lived on Jimmy Carter’s legacy when he tried to return as president for a second term. We really gained nothing by boycotting 1980. Politics aside, this is great watching some of these track races that Americans couldn’t see because 1980 Summer Olympics were dark here in the United States.

[@supersporkspank]

Albert Brooks, Jr. Indeed. The boycott only made the Kremlin even more defiant and generated international resentment at the United States.

[@paulwilliams8389]

In fairness to Carter any US president would have boycotted the Games - just lucky the British Olympic Association stood up to Thatcher or there would have been no Coe v Ovett in Moscow.

[@us-Bahn]

The Soviet boycott in 1984 was, on the other hand, completely justified & internationally lauded as a decision that would thrust the Politburo soaring into the 21century.

[@robertcottam8824]

@@timcollins3794 Hmmm… So you haven’t heard of Nixon, a pair of Bushes… Trumpty-Dumpty… JFK… Ford, Eisenhower… - those all contained within the period of time spanned by our own recently-deceased head-of-state. Within my parents’ lifetime, one could add Harding and Hoover to the list of serial feck-ups. Historically: Coolidge, Pierce, Buchanan and above (below) all, Andrew Johnson… Son, please learn a bit o’ your history. 🤩

[@olivergrumitt2601]

It should really be left to athletes themselves whether they wish to compete in any sporting event - whether to participate or stay away is only a matter for them to decide, no one else, least of all politicians. In the democratic world at least, sportsmen and women should always be able to make a choice.

[@ericgeorge5483]

Steve Cram, legend.

[@francishunt4950]

In his own mind maybe

[@jeffallinson8089]

@@francishunt4950 Should be in yours too.

[@timrobinson100]

WHATS A MEETAH?

[@peteralainszpiriev4750]

Worst decision ever was when east countrys had to leave Olimpics. West started in 1980 but Russia answer was very difficult and was very difficult for Hungary in fact tragedy still not Russia started. Well now three would probably not be Ciclone Avantgarde Hurricane Alexandros or others like Russia try to dwfend Russia.

[@anthonyforder8501]

ma è vero Like the haircut of cram ,no seriously a great final ,Coe ran like a man scared and kicked up home straight ,as one comment did ovett ran 3 36 in the first heat to maintain his 45 races unbeaten that was a mistake,he said in his book that he should have pulled of the double ,he does say two events happened before the final,one was that he overheated went very red etc after the 800 final ,the other was that he had a very bad row with his mother over Rachael his wife to be, I think looking back on it Coe was the best runner he ever ran against at his peak so would have been very difficult to do the double.

[@markpatterson2764]

3 years unbeaten in the 1500m Ovett didn't have the endurance to run 6 races in just over a week,he ran 2 seconds faster in his heat,better than Coe's winning time,but for once the legendary kick which I think blows by any 1500m great in history just wasn't there.

[@pauloliver1842]

steve is wrong it wasn't about him

[@stanmonzon5788]

The acne’s cleared up.

[@saxoncelt9823]

The irony of an US boycott because of Afghanistan when a few years later the Americans invaded the place and are still there!

[@exessex3522]

September 9, 2021. Not any more.

[@saxoncelt9823]

@@exessex3522 Billions of pounds of US military equipment still is!

[@justclosing]

The Warsaw Block could have boycotted the USA because of Vietnam, or now Russia because of Irak. That was the only time I agreed with Thatcher

[@stoolpigeon4285]

Humble Cram, still holds them both as idols, when he was better than both

[@stoolpigeon4285]

@SavageArfad better times means better- stupid reply to my fact

[@davidshannon2860]

Ben Webb better times isn’t really a guide is it loads of Africans run faster times over 1500m/ mile these days does that mean they r better than Coe/cram/ovett no it doesn’t cram only ran the 1500m one tenth faster than Coe but Coe was double Olympic champion over 1500m cram only won a silver medal so who was better obviously Coe

[@andyallen4492]

Ben Webb I think cram was better than both over1500m but as a overall middle distance runner I think it was coe

[@bronxcheer1484]

webbski7 - bollocks

[@stoolpigeon4285]

@@davidshannon2860 Cram was a much faster at the mile too

[@timrobinson100]

CRAM[ LEARN TO SAY YOUR T,S

[@timo_8488]

Tim Robinson Why?

[@user-vo6gr1us9w]

Hypocritical when the yanks invaded Afghanistan 20 years later....

[@MissBlennerhassett876]

I HATE Sebastian Coe!

[@timrobinson100]

DONT LIKE CRAM

[@darrenshaw767]

Rumour had it he is not a fan of yours either

[@fishandchips9033]

@@darrenshaw767 lol.

[@jamescarpenter6585]

Do you know him?

[@simonedwards5564]

WHO GIVES A SHIT WHO YOU DON'T LIKE,,,THE GUY WAS A FANTASTIC RUNNER!!!!!!! WHAT DID YOU DO FOR WORLD ATHLETICS!!!!!!!!!

[@timrobinson100]

@@simonedwards5564 fuck off did I ask you you prick