Steve Ovett Options

[Still Building]

I was at the Ovett and Coe breakfast. It was good.

I took with me a copy of each of their autobiographies in the hope that they may possibly become signed copies. One gold medallist self-effacingly said, “Where did you drag that from?” and seemed embarrassed that I produced it. The book was signed with a personal message. The other gold medallist signed, but didn’t bother to look at me, and didn’t say a word to me. Well, there we have it.

Steve Ovett would have to be the athlete I admire most in my years of following athletics. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side at crucial times throughout his career.

In the ’76 Montreal Olympics he drew lane 8 in the 800 m final, which was run in lanes for the first 320 metres. Understandably, down the home straight for the first time, he was well off the pace as he was unaware of where the other competitors were and had no chance of placing.

Having won the 800 m at the ’80 Moscow Olympics, he had family problems between the 800 and the 1500m final - a race that didn’t unfold to suit him.

He had health problems in the ’84 Los Angeles Olympics – and drawing the awesome Joachim Cruz in each round of the 800 m didn’t help either. Cruz, incidentally ran a 1.41.77 (0.04 off Coe’s record set 4 years earlier) in 1985 and I think would have won 2 Olympic Golds but for a crazy first 250 metres in Seoul.
Ovett arrived in the US as the 1500 metres world record holder. Unfortunately, he experienced respiratory problems throughout his races in LA and was hospitalised for two days after the 800m final. He got himself together and made the 1500 m final but pulled out with breathing difficulties with 350 m to go while still in good position.

In 1977 and 1978 Ovett was clearly the world’s dominant middle distance runner. In 78-79 he never chased fast times, just wins. Perhaps he could have run his quickest in those years.

In 1983 he set a 1500 m world record in 3.30 in very windy conditions. I don’t think we ever saw the best of Steve Ovett. In the Helsinki World Championships of the same year he was boxed in, and finished fourth.

He went on to win the 5000 m in the ’86 Commonwealth Games. That’s over ten years of top international running.

I can’t speak with personal knowledge, but from all reports he always believed that running was just another part of life and something he simply enjoyed doing for its own sake. It was never the be all and end all. Realising his own good fortune, he regularly visited handicapped and underprivileged children and shunned any recognition for his good deeds. An internet search reveals that Ovett is still involved in charity work.

It is reported that he loaned his Olympic medals, as lucky charms, to a little boy as the boy was waiting for an operation.

Ovett opted for a simple and quiet life with his wife and children and has avoided publicity. I’ve read that his own children didn’t know he was an Olympic Champion until a teacher told one of them. Adulation does not seem to have affected him. My understanding is that he doesn’t run much these days as a cycling accident in Scotland has limited his ability to exercise.

In David Hemery’s Sporting Excellence – A Study of Sport’s Highest Achievers, published in 1986, Hemery asked all those involved with the book how they hoped to be remembered. Ovett said that he didn’t really want to be remembered. After more thought, he said he hoped to be remembered more as a person than an athlete but realised that this will never be the case. When pressed, he then described himself as “worth a good laugh” and as a “fairly level headed bloke.” I must say, many of the other high achievers described themselves in far more glowing terms. Interesting stuff.

At the breakfast, Steve said a few funny things, seemed fairly level headed and he is a bloke, so that would be mission accomplished!

While watching a replay of the Moscow 1500 m at the breakfast, I was hoping Steve would win it this time around! But he finished third again – funny about that. If I hadn't shown my bias I did then.
On reflection, if Ovett had have won the 1500 m in Moscow, the world would have been denied an exemplary model of humility and good sportsmanship as he accepted his defeat with grace and good nature – the manner in which he accepted any defeat.

Smacks of Rudyard Kipling’s sentiments,

“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same…”

Steve Ovett – 10/10

I look forward to his expert commentary next week.

[CB Mac]

Interesting comments about the signing. Same experience for me, I got a singlet signed and Ovett was happy to have a quick chat whereas Coe seemed quite put upon. Probably just doesn't like signatures because he seemed quite personable when he was speaking.

Great morning all round- the word legend is thrown around a bit but its not often we get the chance to talk to and hear two genuine legends of our sport.

[Sparkie]

Check out The Perfect Distance which is a pretty original take on both Coe and Ovett's careers, and compares their rises and rivalries. Some of the descriptions of the key races are just awesome.

If you ask nicely, I might even lend you my copy ;)

BTW from all reports, Coe's reticence is shyness, not rudeness...

[MPT]

I also attended the Coe Ovett Revisted breakfast. I flew down from Sydney especially to attend. I took a copy of "The Perfect Distance" to be autographed for my son. Coe, Ovett, Ron Clarke, Daley Thompson and Cathy Freeman all signed the book, each with a short message of encouragement addressed to my son. He was thrilled to receive it when I got home.
I thought it was a great function and found their thoughts and recollections on their junior years and racing careers to be very interesting.
I too have the greatest admiration for Steve Ovett. A sublime racer who rarely raced the clock.
I have met him at previous national schools meets where he was watching his son and daughter run.He is the most unassuming and friendliest of men, full of advice and encouragement for young runners. He had a very nice chat with my son and myself in Adelaide a year or so ago.
I would be great if we could have more of these events in the future. Who knows, the funds raised could be used to send junior mens team to the world cross country !!

[Still Building]

Thanks for the offer, Sparkie. But I am sure I will come across the book sooner or later. Have you bought online at Amazon before?

I forgot to mention some more bad luck S. Ovett had. In Montreal, he missed the final of the 1500 m by .4 of a second after the guy in front of him fell over. I will have to amend my original post to include this.

[Schtumpy]

quote:

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Originally posted by Sparkie:

BTW from all reports, Coe's reticence is shyness, not rudeness...

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For what it's worth, after a week of spectacular athletic achievement (thank you McCann, Cherono, Choge, Willis, Pittman & Mottram) there was a few minutes when the "talking heads" were actually entertaining.
I very much enjoyed the urbane, polite & enlightening conversation between Mark Nicholas & Sebastian Coe.

[HillsAths1]

I must admit I have always looked upon Steve Ovett as a great runner, But as mentioned above he is also a nice bloke.
Last year at the State cross country relays Steve was there as he had some other engagement in Sydney that weekend, he was polite and was quite happy to have his photo taken with about 40 of the members of the Hills club as well as took time out to talk and shake hands with anyone that wished to.
And a great commentator to boot....
Greeny can you put Steve on the books as a contributor?

[MPH]

Sparkie, what did he do to upset the media, which you allured to in another thread?

I was marvelled at the way he never once spoke of any bias to England in his commentary and when asked about the ‘girls’ chances in the 1500m race, he assumed to talk about the Aussie girls (and he knew a fair bit). And in the womans 4x400, he never once ridiculed the decision once it was handed out, even though he would have been personally disappointed. Seems a perfect commentator to me.