Sebastian Coe v Steve Ovett

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

The greatest rivalry in British athletics?

One for the FOC's. Which camp were you in?
Coe was my favourite and I (badly) tried to emulate him whilst trying to get my AAA badge at school running around the track four times for the 1500 meters.
Sadly he ruined his reputation in my eyes when becoming a Tory MP and I disowned him - but what a runner!

 

[Barcon]

Cricket?

 

[platty7]

The greatest rivalry in British athletics?

One for the FOC's. Which camp were you in?
Coe was my favourite and I (badly) tried to emulate him whilst trying to get my AAA badge at school running around the track four times for the 1500 meters.
Sadly he ruined his reputation in my eyes when becoming a Tory MP and I disowned him - but what a runner!

same. me and my brother used to race each other around our estate me being coe him ovette . i always waited on the shoulder then a kick finish like coe . then as you say ruined it and cant stand the fooker now, but he was an amazing athlete

 

[PinkFinal]

Everyone preferred Ovett
He seemed more down to earth

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Everyone preferred Ovett
He seemed more down to earth

Well clearly me and @platty7 didnt ;)

 

[The Colonel]

Everyone preferred Ovett
He seemed more down to earth

And a little bit more rock and roll. Coe was always the posh arrogant twat. Amazing natural athlete though. Still the fastest Brit over 800 M.

 

[levets]

Everyone preferred Ovett
He seemed more down to earth

Coe… Ovett’s ‘I love you’ signal did my head in

 

[doffer]

Ovett. All day, every day.

 

[Eccles Blue]

Ovett because the ‘establishment’ looked down on him from their ivory towers. :-)

 

[chaddblue]

I was only trying to explain this rivalry to my lad yesterday. How Great Britain had the two best in the world. Followed on by Steve Cram

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

I was only trying to explain this rivalry to my lad yesterday. How Great Britain had the two best in the world. Followed on by Steve Cram

Brendan Foster before and don't forget Dave Moorcroft.

 

[RadcliffeRick]

Coe until a few months ago when he jumped on to the rags gravy train. He can fuck off now!!

 

[bluemoon32]

Peter Elliott was another one, won silver at the Olympics & World Championships, gold at the Commonwealth games.
Not as good as Coe or Ovett but still a fine athlete

 

[LWashington]

Peter Elliott was another one, won silver at the Olympics & World Championships, gold at the Commonwealth games.
Not as good as Coe or Ovett but still a fine athlete

I think their was Tom McKean around that time too. I seem to remember him having a few races against Elliot, Cram and Coe.

 

[lefty goldblatt]

We were always an Ovett family
Coe was, and always will be, a smarmy twat.
No wonder he ended up in politics

 

[lefty goldblatt]

Dave Moorcroft.

God, he was dull.
Makes Southgate seem like a rebel

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Ovett, both well on the posh side but Steve looked a bit rough around the edges and could/should have decked Coe.

 

[tweety]

Ovett came across as a man of the people whereas Coe was the complete opposite, nothing has changed my mind over the last 40 plus years.

 

[chesterbells]

“Steve Ovett, those blue eyes like chips of ice”

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

Steve ovett for me. I liked his simple approach, it was just him, no science and supplements. No assistance or team behind him as such.
Coe seemed to have a lot of backing, a lot of support especially from the media and people in the higher echelons of society. He got a lot of coverage.
I mean look at where they are now, one of them is a politician and statesmen and the other just lived a humble life.

Then Cram came along and it all got even better.