Sebastian Coe

Sebastian Newbold Coe — later Baron Coe — was born in Chiswick in 1956 and became, alongside Steve Ovett, the central figure in what is widely regarded as the golden era of British middle-distance ...

Sebastian Newbold Coe — later Baron Coe — was born in Chiswick in 1956 and became, alongside Steve Ovett, the central figure in what is widely regarded as the golden era of British middle-distance running. He set nine world records across the 800m, 1000m, 1500m and mile between 1979 and 1981, establishing himself as the most technically accomplished middle-distance runner of his generation. At the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where his rivalry with Ovett was at its most intense, he lost the 800m — Ovett's preferred distance — and won the 1500m. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics he retained his 1500m gold and won silver in the 800m. He was elected a Conservative MP in 1992 and was created a life peer in 2000. He chaired London's successful 2012 Olympic bid — the Games widely considered the most successful in modern Olympic history — and became President of World Athletics (then IAAF) in 2015. His tenure has included the management of the Russian doping scandal and broader governance reforms. His 1:41.73 for 800m in 1981 stood as the British record for over 30 years. The Coe-Ovett rivalry, conducted largely through rival record-breaking rather than direct competition, raised the global profile of middle-distance running to a level it has not since matched.

Tactical runner with devastating finishing kick

Greatest middle distance runner, later sports administrator

• Olympic Gold 1500m 2x (1980 1984)
• Olympic Silver 800m 2x
• 9 world records