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At Moscow in 1980 it was Coe v. Ovett, now four years later a third
Briton joined the domestic contest - World 1500m. champion Steve Cram.
Unwell during 1983, Seb had faded from the limelight only to hit the
headlines with his controversial selection over Peter Elloitt, who had
won the Olympic Trial, for the third place in the 1500m.
It seems
strange that a defending champion's selection should be controversial
but at the time Seb was still regaining full fitness. Added to the
burden of justifying his selection was the realisation that, unlike in
1980, when the African nations were missing, the 800m final was full of
superb athletes, to the extent that the defending champion Steve Ovett
was considered an outsider and so it proved. The first three men broke
1min. 44sec. and the winner, Brazil's Joaquim Cruz, the Olympic record
with 1min. 43.00sec. (only Seb had ever ran faster - twice). Coe
finished 2nd (1min. 43.64sec.) but said "I'm happy to get the silver in
what was a great field".
Ahead lay the prospect of facing Cram in the
1500m final and the pressures of becoming the first man to successfully
defend that title. The 1500m final is traditionally raced on the last
day of the Games and it proves a fitting climax. Coe was always close to
the leader, firstly Omar Khalifa and then the American Steve Scott
(1min. 58.81sec. at 800m) but the most dramatic moment came as Cram, in
front with Jose Abascal, saw Seb shoot between them and open up a 3-4m
advantage on the final bend which he was unable to close. All the way
down the finishing straight the champion never faltered and crossed the
line (see photo above) in a new Olympic record time of 3min.
32.53sec.
Afterwards he said "It was a very hard race. The last twenty
paces seemed to take a lifetime". What a life ! - another gold - another
record. (George Herringshaw)
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