Stephen Ovett

Steven Ovett OBE, Olympic Gold medallist over 800m, is one of the greatest British athletes, ever, heralding from the golden era of British athletics. His on the track rivalry with Sebastian Coe is legendary and resulted in some of the greatest middle distance races of all time - the like of which has never been repeated.

Steven Ovett OBE, Olympic Gold medallist over 800m, is one of the greatest British athletes, ever, heralding from the golden era of British athletics. His on the track rivalry with Sebastian Coe is legendary and resulted in some of the greatest middle distance races of all time - the like of which has never been repeated.

SPORT BIO

The Brighton born Ovett gained some Olympic experinece in 1976 when he rain in the final of the 800m and placed fifth. At the Eruopean Championships in 1978, he won gold in the 1500m and silver in the 800m.

But it was at the Moscow Games of 1980 that the media furore took him to new heights of awareness - he as the undoubted favourite to take the 1500m title. Earlier that month, he had established a new mile world record and two weeks later equaled Sebastian Coe's world record in 1500m. He had been unbeaten over the 1500m and mile for three years. He used the 800m as his test for the 1500m, but shocked the world when he moved from the halfway mark and pushed his way to second place and with just seventy metres to go shot into the lead and held off Coe to win by three metres. Six days later he assured 1500m gold was taken by Coe whe was in front of Ovett throughout the race, Ovett took bronze.

After the Olympics Ovett lowered the 1500m world record and did it again in 1983.

Ovett attempted to defend his 800m title in 1984 at the Olympic Summer Games. Battling with bronchitis he barely qualified for the final and then finished eighth, after which he collapsed and spent two nights in hospital. He returned to compete in the 1500m but collapsed on the final lap and had to be taken away on a stretcher.

In 1986 he won the 5000m in the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. He failed to make the 1988 Olympic team and decided to retire soon after that.

SPECIALIST AREAS

Steve was awarded the MBE in 1982 and the OBE in 2000 both for services to sport. He was the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1978.

After retiring, Steve became a consultant with the I.A.A.F as well as working for ISL, the group then in charge of worldwide marketing for major sports includng athletics.

Steve has also worked for broadcast television as a commentator with ITV on sport for domestic coverage withink the UK, for CBC during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the 2003 World Championships in Paris, the 2004 Athens Olympics and CH9 and BBC at 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.