Steve Ovett - 1500m Bislett Games, Oslo 1983

Steve Ovett winning over 1500m at the Bislett Games in Oslo in 1983.
Commentators - David Coleman and Ron Pickering.
BBC Coverage.

[@johnmoorely7275]

What a great commentator Coleman was - informative, fully prepared with statistics and with a wonderful pacing of the commentary to the climax. He has only been equalled by Agnew on cricket who has a pleasanter voice and more time to display his sense of humour.

[@LPCLASSICAL]

Those were athletes Ovett was leaving for dead in 1981 - just shows how much the church railings injury affected him.

[@siypic]

Dont think he was ever the same..

[@musik102]

@@siypic Ovett always seemed very confident but Cram says differently. For example, he appeared to Cram to be a bag of nerves before that Olympic 1500m final. I think that was what effected his performances later in his career. For example, towards the end of the 1983 season he broke the world 1500m world record and in doing so ran his best time ever but, very telling, against weaker opposition ( which would have boosted his confidence ).

[@andrewdeacon8315]

He did break the world record again later that season and but for getting himself horribly blocked would have at least medalled and perhaps beaten Cram in the Worlds.

[@tommytempo1]

Good to see Peter Coe congratulate Steve Ovett at the finish.

[@francishooton3933]

you're right!

[@bear1568]

tommytempo1 yeah, that was cool.

[@paulwilliams8389]

Peter Coe did have a lot of respect for him. I saw an interview with him where he was asked "Not including Seb, who in your opinion is the greatest middle distance runner ever?" He answered "Steve Ovett. He was a magnificent athlete."

[@SirPeter6464]

In his standard red jacket. Think he wore it to stand out or fool people he was an official. Not allowed to stand track side and call times to your athlete. He did it all the time.

[@joemcm1]

imagine what peter could have done with ovett.........

[@walterchambers9842]

Ovett was the greatest Loved him.

[@bogdanbabic1083]

Nice to see John Walker still competitive in 1983, 7 years after his olympic title. I hate to see him giving up a race due to injury.

[@SirPeter6464]

Big Walker fan. All things are relative but he was tough and tenacious with a physique that didn't suggest middle distances. Ground out wins the hard way.

[@murkymurk8305]

Love the Sub4 kit. Wore something similar in HS around that time...

[@musik102]

Still competing? I'm sure John ran in the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

[@tommytempo1]

@@musik102 He did, at 800m and 1500m.

[@BayAreaMusicLens]

No disrespect to Walker, his resume is top notch, but I am wondering if he kept running due to appearance fees? Nothing wrong with that but a lot of these 80's youtube videos show Walker still up in the top 4-5 runners but I dont see any victories. I am not trying to irratate Walker fans, as I too am a Walker fan. I went to a runners seminar around 1978 or so in Palo Alto California and Walker advised avid runners to be realistic about their running and not overdue the mileage as he said he normally took Fridays off and had a beer or two with his friends at a pub and he still won gold and had a world record.

[@andrewallen1083]

Ovett used to go at 200m but he looked unsure of himself after 1981

[@hutchieboy242]

The runners intentionally tried to block Ovett in, but when he moved forward it caused a collapse. They were really nasty, how they just parked on the outside of him in the last lap.

[@peters6119]

actually Ovett just put himself in a bad position. Then he subtly pushed Flynn out a bit with his elbow and when Flynn went wide he took out Abascal. It was all Ovett's fault.

[@siypic]

@@peters6119 Your right.... steve was in a crap position on the inside...

[@seanofafrica]

@@peters6119 Agreed, except for the "subtle" bit. No messing Ovett-style like in the Moscow 1500m. Really should have been DQ'd.

[@thailandwild4897]

@@peters6119 Absolutely. I was a big fan of Ovett, but surely, he should have been disqualified here.

[@thailandwild4897]

@@seanofafrica Quite right.

[@user-yf3ti8ry2v]

Better field than the 1980 Olympic Final 1500m Walker The 2 Spaniards World Class plus Flynn top runner

[@andywright8803]

Gladiatorial

[@jorgecase8788]

Ovett pushed Flynn who then caused Abascal to fall. Ovett took out two competitors with one little shove

[@johnstirling6597]

Graham Williamson never seemed to get the respect (or breaks) that he deserved. Probably should have gone to the Moscow Olympics instead of Cram.

[@mickeymouse7861]

I think Steve Ovett was a fantastic athlete but, as in this race, was overly physical on a number of occasions. I can't believe that the commentator failed to mentioned that Ovett, having got himself boxed on the final bend, shoved his way out of trouble here and should possible have been disqualified.

[@francishooton3933]

that wasn't a disqualification offense then. He also pushed and shoved in his 800m olympic win. Ovett wasn't a fantastic athlete. He was brilliant. Very consistent, very fast, a brilliant tactician. 7 world records. he won 45 consecutive 1500m and mile races from 1977 to 1980. I don't think anyone else has equalled that feat.

[@mathematics5573]

Ovett also still has a world record. I kidd you not.

[@choppy249]

Francis Hooton . The two mile isn’t it ?

[@peterh1353]

@@choppy249 Given the record is now under 8 minutes and Ovett was nothing like that I doubt it!

[@graemechristopher4008]

I disagree, these are men not boys or cream puff wimps. If you are boxed in, then how else can you get past without a bit of physical contact?

[@davidgraham101]

I enjoyed watching this race and appreciate Ovett's talent, but he should have been disqualified. It is quite clear that he elbowed Ray Flynn and forced Flynn to bump into Abascal, who then went down. Whether Ovett's being boxed in was due to unfortunate tactics or his competitors not letting him pass on the inside is irrelevant: that his actions knocked another athlete off his feet is what counts. Even by 1980s standards, this should have been a disqualification for Ovett.