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In 1979, Sebastian Coe set three World Records in the space of just 41
days. First he smashed 1976 double Olympic champion Alberto Juantorena's
800m. record by over one second. Next he lowered the 1976 Olympic
1500m. champion John Walker's one mile record by four tenths of a second
and finally (pictured above) he shaved a tenth of a second off Filbert Bayi's 1974 1500m record with 3m 32.1 secs **.
He was 22 years of age and offically became the first man to hold all
three of these World records at the same time, although in fairness, the
American Jim Ryan held the half mile, 1500m. and one mile records
simultaneously.
It all took-off at the famous Bislett Stadium in Oslo,
Norway, with the 800m. record of 1min. 42.33sec. where Seb won by
25 metres. He covered the opening 400m. in 50.6sec. followed by a
51.8sec. lap. Of his performance John Walker said, "The way he ran was
just unbelievable". Twelve days later he was back at the Bislett Stadium
for the IAAF Dubai "Golden Mile" up against a star-studded field, in
which, on paper, he was the slowest competitor !
He had not run a
1500m / one mile since 1977. At the bell Coe was in the lead, a 58sec. third
lap left his closest challenger Steve Scott (USA) floundering and the
vociferous Bislett crowd were playing their part. Seb crossed the line
in 3m 48.95sec but in accordance with the rules his time was
rounded up to 3min. 49.00sec. "I was astonished when I was told I had
broken the world record", he said afterwards.
The third record, the
1500m. fell to him in Zurich **, only on this occasion Coe, the supposed
800m. runner, was the favourite. The pace-maker was poor and Seb found
himself in the lead by the 800m. mark (1min. 53.2sec.). Afterwards he
said "It was a long run for home, it was tough but the deafening
enthusiasm of the crowd was fantastic" (George Herringshaw)
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