British · Brighton · Born 9 October 19551980 Olympic 800m champion, WR breaker in 1500m/mile.
Steven Michael James Ovett was born in Brighton in 1955 and dominated British and world middle distance running alongside Sebastian Coe through the late 1970s and early 1980s in one of athletics' most celebrated rivalries. He competed from 1973 to 1988. He won Olympic gold at the 1980 Moscow Games in the 800m — Coe's preferred event — while Coe won the 1500m — Ovett's preferred event — in one of sport's great competitive ironies. He set 7 world records across the 1500m and mile in a remarkable period from 1977 to 1983, including the mile record of 3:48.40. His personal bests of 1:44.09 for 800m, 3:30.77 for 1500m and 3:48.40 for the mile were among the fastest ever recorded for a British athlete. His 45-race unbeaten run from 1977 to 1980 was the most dominant sustained period of middle-distance running by any British athlete. He was BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1978. His partnership-rivalry with Sebastian Coe — producing world records, Olympic medals and newspaper front pages throughout his careers — raised the global profile of middle-distance running to its highest point.
Middle Distance Runner
He and Coe traded the world mile record between them so frequently that both men held it multiple times in the same calendar year.
Did You Know?How They Played
Tactical runner with devastating finishing kick, excellent in championship races
Lasting Impact
One of Britain's greatest middle distance runners, part of the golden era with Sebastian Coe
Career Honours
- 1980 Olympic gold 800m
- 1980 Olympic bronze 1500m
- European 800m/1500m double champ 1978
British Athletes