Steve Cram - Commonwealth Games 800m Final, Edinburgh 1986

Steve Cram with one of his best ever performances to win the Commonwealth Games 800m Final, Edinburgh 1986.
Commentators - David Coleman, Ron Pickering & Brendan Foster
BBC Coverage

[@jeffallinson8089]

1:43.22 from the back of the field.....INCREDIBLE. Cram destroyed a really good quality field here without even trying; on this form he was unbeatable, that was an insane run.

[@rovers10001]

Steve cram was the supreme athlete of 1985/early 1986, shame there wasn’t a major championship at that time.

[@michaelmcginley7930]

1 43.2 into the wind.unbeatable on that day

[@TimboTravels]

Cram in his pomp. Majestic stuff.

[@tommytempo1]

The 800m performance of 1986.

[@StewartJsR]

Cram might have beaten anyone in the history of the event on this day. 1.43 low off dead even splits, on a grey and windy afternoon and did it EASY. Epic running.

[@jimmason8502]

Wasn't even out of breath at the finish.

[@fulltiltboogiewoogie]

It's still the Commonwealth Games record in 2022!!

[@boog6041]

Even David Rudisha?

[@Anthony-Testicali]

@@boog6041 yes

[@jerryoshea3116]

​@@boog6041it certainly would have been a 'Great Race'..As we saw at the 2012 Olympics 800m final..

[@samhardy6319]

Magnificent athlete. As someone else said in these comments, the athlete of the year in 85 (a title which he officially won), and a magnificent season in 86. Extraordinary talent.

[@martynhanson]

There is no doubt in my mind Cram peaked here as compared to Stuttgart. He still did great there but just lacked the zip he had in Edinburgh.

[@davidstokle2259]

I saw Cram race at Stockholm's old Olympic stadium. He was in a group of about five runners with 300 meters to go. Then, on the straight before last, he simply went on the outside lane, switched gears and made all the other runners look like they were stationary. I think he had the most beautiful natural stride of any middle distance runner.

[@tommytempo1]

Cram would easily have went under 1:43.00 here had he went full out. As you can see by the Commonwealth Games Flag flying, the conditions at Meadowbank were not perfect for fast times.

[@ericgeorge5483]

Cram absolutely destroyed them. A very good piece of running indeed.

[@rc2869]

I'd forgotten how fast this was under conditions.

[@user-ro7ee7]

Forever.. Super Steve... The Best Cram... Only 2019....

[@MrZodiac666]

The glory days 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[@siypic]

When the UK had great depth in middle distance...... now our county champs had just six althetes in the 1500m, back in the 1980s there were 6 heats of ten athletes.... so sad.

[@paulwilliams8389]

Bear in mind this race was run in windy conditions. Was worth around 1.42.50 on a better day.

[@davidnesbit45]

Absolutely pissed it.

[@LPCLASSICAL]

Cram rather neglected 800M and I wonder if he'd run more races at his peak - with top opposition -whether he could have gone inside 1.42 in 1985 or even here in 1986.

[@mathematics5573]

Stuart, I heard Cram once saying No or unlikely to a sub 1.42

[@samhardy6319]

There's an interview somewhere on KZbin where he's asked about breaking the 800m. He said if Coe [and perhaps Cruz] were in the race he might have been able to have a stab at it. We'll never know, but he was certainly capable of running quicker than his pb of 1.42.88.

[@simonedwards5564]

@@samhardy6319 most DEFINITELY!!!!!!!

[@chrismac2234]

The Rolls Royce of runners. Shame about the injuries in Olympic years.

[@StewartJsR]

Coming across this 2 years after my last comment. I'm taking back "might have" beaten anyone - Cram beats ANYONE in history on this day. 38 flat last 300 just cruuuuising. Too good, too good.

[@davidshannon2860]

Rudisha might disagree with u 1.40.90

[@michaelmcginley7930]

A windy day in Edinburgh and cram runs 1 43.2.I would say that at the time one of the best 800! Run.A so far! Was a 1500 meter runner the word record at the time was only 1 .5 sec quicket.brilliant run

[@1976stoney]

Agree- the decimation of a good standard field here (remembering also that Elliot would beat him regularly in 1990-3) says that 1985/6 vintage Cram was one of the best middle distance runners ever. I've met him in real life and he's nice but he also has that authority about him- he would be an imposing figure to run against.

[@user-qk7vv3mx1s]

still a fast time by today's standards.

[@gringo19860]

Not even puffing after that. Incredible 😂

[@funnyeveryday-vn3nq]

I love watching Cram run; only one I ever loved watching more was Ovett

[@ianwhitehead5435]

Cram was a great athlete, superbly successful beyond a doubt, but I never ever enjoyed watching him really, just personal taste in running style. I'm a Peter Elliot fan personally, I prefer his gutsy running style which made his 4 international competition medals touch the heart that bit more, he worked his socks off for them achieving a wonderful Commonwealth Games Gold in 1990 as well as World Indoor 1500 metres record that same year, and achieving 20 races unbeaten. It's just personal taste and appreciating success that was so hard worked for and perhaps less expected, making it more appreciated.

[@paulwilliams8389]

Elliott never had the natural ability of Coe, Ovett or Cram but he was a superb runner (who never got the credit he deserved in my opinion) who gave absolutely everything out on the track.

[@No_One1_Special]

Interesting. To me, Cram's elegant running style is what made him one of my two favorite track athletes to watch, the other being Davis Rudisha.

[@davidstokle2259]

Elliot was tough and credit to him for all his victories. But his stride, as well as it worked for him was for me, robotic. Cram on the other hand seemed to glide. Cram in his prime was airborne. Elliot never seemed to leave the ground. Again it's a question of taste. Both runners were graceful in their own ways. And, notably, both were gentlemen on the track, especially Cram who always made it to point to shake his competitors hands especially if he lost to them.

[@mickeymouse7861]

Messing about with his cross just after the first bend, then had to chop his stride before the second bend, then runs a last lap of 51.5 (handtimed). Amazing! Easily could have broken 1:43.00 and perhaps bettered his best of 1:42.88 against Cruz.

[@ewaf88]

Cram for me never reached his potential due to his calf muscle problems - I think it was compartment syndrome. If he had been at his peak when and been in the same race as El Guerrouj when the latter ran 3:24 it would have been some showdown.

[@mickeymouse7861]

El Guerrouj never ran 3:24.

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

There is always the doubt about ElG's performances and huge time reductions over his career. EPO is always mentioned as one day he can't get anywhere near Morceli and all of a sudden he's thrashing him 🤔

[@andrewallen1083]

In 85/86 cram was invincible

[@tommytempo1]

Apart from the times that Ovett and Coe beat him.

[@andrewallen1083]

@@tommytempo1 They didn't beat him in 85/86. Cram destroyed coe in 1985 when he broke the world mile record. Please check your facts

[@tommytempo1]

@@andrewallen1083 Coe beat him twice over 800m and Ovett beat him in the Westminster Mile in 1985, Please do a bit of research yourself.

[@andrewallen1083]

@@tommytempo1 but not when cram was at his very best in those years is my point.Coe was the greatest of them all.

[@tommytempo1]

@@andrewallen1083 So you checked your facts then.

[@PrentisHancock1]

Cram's splits approx L1: 51.8, and L2: 51.4.

[@nickbamber268]

Peter not too keen to shake hands with Steve there.

[@paulwilliams8389]

He did shake his hand. I think Elliott was just showing his disappointment in finishing third which meant he would miss out on selection for the European Championships the following month.