Seb Coe looks like he’s straight out of Chariots of Fire sprinting the turn head up, arms pumping, teeth baring or, he could be described as Prince Charles with plastic surgery. If you don’t know or haven’t heard much of him recently – you will. He’s heading up London’s preparation for the 2012 Olympics.
The main compliment I can say about Coe is that he was a winner – the guy went for it hard in an angry sort of persistance that is difficult to describe. The 800 and 1500 meters in the early 80′s were dominated by the Brits; with Coe’s rivalry with countrymen Ovette and Cram are legendary. Coe won 2 Olympic 1500 meter Golds in 1980 & 1984 along with countless other awards and World Records (if you want details see Wiki).
Here is what I think is Coe’s greatest victory – at the LA ’84 Olympics. The race has such interesting sub plots. Steve Ovetts breathing problems, Steve Scotts training in the Arizona Dessert to try and build up his indurance to be able to push the early pace and wear people down – that obviously didin’t work. Coe after the finish gave kind of a wierd stiff double hand point up towards the stands like a mad robot. Apparently what it was – was a defiant “take that” to the British press that criticized him all year and that he wasn’t gonna win. Sebastian Coe, one of the greatest middle distance runners of all time?
