Coe chronicles: 1984 to 1986 - Olympic gold and Euro 800m title
The first three parts of this series are available on the AW website here. The final three parts are available to subscribers exclusively in the AW Clubhouse.
The period from 1984 to 1986 was a good one for Seb Coe after the lows of 1982 and 1983. He survived a scare at the Olympic trials to make the team and successfully defended his Olympic title and though he was easily overshadowed by Cram in 1985, he had a solid season and came back in 1986 to finally win a major 800m title.
» The first part of our ‘Coe chronicles’ looks at his greatest top 10 races. Click here to read.
» Part two analyses his early races as a teenager. Click here to read.
» Part three covers Coe’s races from 1976 to his first world records in 1979. Click here to read.
» Part four covers his competitions from 1980 to 1983. Click here to read.
» Part five, here, looks at the 1984 to 1986 seasons including his second Olympic gold.
» Part six revisits the twilight of his racing career from 1987-1990. Click here to read.
Thames Valley Road Relays, Cranford, March 31
3.5M: 16:16 (fastest leg)
Not having raced for eight months, and returning after serious illness, his fitness was surprisingly good as his leg three run saw him take over in 20th and make up 10 spots with the fastest overall leg though Ccross country international Deon McNeilly (16:18) came close.
You’d think there would have been great interest in the Olympic champion’s return but the report and result did not appear in AW until May 12 six weeks later!
Southern Road Relay, Wimbledon, April 7
3.3M: 15:07 (fastest leg)
His team (Haringey) could only finish eighth but again his endurance was promising and his was the quickest overall short leg from Julian Goater (15:17), who had surprisingly made the final of the first ever World Championships 5000m and had been the only Briton to do so.
National 12-stage Road Relay, Sutton Park, April 21
3M: 14:00 (2nd fastest leg)
He moved up from 11th to fifth on leg four but missed out on the overall fastest leg by just a single second to Highgate's future 2:10 marathoner Mike O’Reilly.
Middlesex Championships 800m, Enfield, May 19
1st 1:45.2
He had opened his track season with a 46.8 British League 4x400m leg the week before but his first individual race saw him make his Middlesex debut having been born in Fulham. He led through 400m in 52.0 and held on well with a 53.2 final circuit to win by almost five seconds from Hamish McInnes (1:50.0).
Southern Championships 1500m, Crystal Palace, June 2
1st 3:43.11
His first 1500m of the year saw him run a 53.0 last 400m as he passed British Olympic Trials 5000m winner Eamonn Martin (3:44.39) with 80 metres to go.
AAA Championships 1500m, Crystal Palace, June 24
2nd 3:39.79
With world champion Steve Cram and world record-holder Steve Ovett pre selected, only one place in Britain’s Olympic team remained and this was seen by everyone as the Olympic trial.
Coe survived a few early pushes and trips but was in front at the start of the last lap ahead of Peter Elliott, who had been fourth in the 1983 World Championships 800m but wanted to double in Los Angeles.
His rival went ahead 250m out but Coe passed him at the beginning of the straight only to buckle in the last few metres as Elliott (3:39.66) was much the stronger. Some thought that would mean Coe would have to focus on the 800m, for which he was pre selected but the selectors ignored concerns that he may still not be fully healthy and they controversially chose him to double over the Trials winner.
Oslo 800m, June 28
1st 1:43.84
Just five days after his stunning loss to Elliott, Coe showed more familiar form following the pacemaker through 400m in 51.03, then decisively kicking to victory ahead of James Robinson (1:45.12), who had run 1:43.92 in the US Trials and failed to make their team in fourth spot.
Coe’s time meant he became the first ever runner to break 1:44 five times.
Brigg Mile, Haringey July 4
1st 3:54.6
In a largely solo run, Coe put together laps of 59.8, 60.7, 58.0 and 56.1 to complete his competitive preparation for the Olympics. Second was Kirk Dumpleton (4:08.1) who had beaten both Coe and Ovett in the 1972 English Schools race, 12 years earlier.
Olympic Games 800m, Los Angeles, August 6
2nd 1:43.64 (1:45.51 semi, 1:46.75 and 1:45.71 heats)
No one was able to seriously challenge Joaquim Cruz who put together the greatest ever quartet of 800s -1:45.66, 1:44.84, 1:43.82 and 1:43.00 on successive days, and it was the first time athletes had ever had to cope with such a gruelling timetable.
The winning time was the third fastest in history after Coe’s two world records. However, Coe ran brilliantly for his second successive silver but he was far happier this time than he was in Moscow. But for Cruz of course, Coe’s time would have easily been an Olympic record.
Coe’s 200m splits were 24.52, 26.77, 26.64 and 25.71 and he survived a minor clash in the straight as he passed Edwin Koech and fought off bronze medallist Earl Jones (1:43.83) but it made no difference to his medal.
It was his third best ever time after his record runs. Afterwards he proved he was better at running than prophecy as he said: “That was my last chance for an 800m title.”
Olympic Games 1500m, Los Angeles, August 11
1st 3:32.53 (Olympic record) (3:35.81 semi)
While Coe’s sequence of 800m races was of no comparison to Cruz, no athlete had ever gone into into his main event with such a quality series of 800m races and he completed an astonishing Games with a brilliant victory that smashed the Olympic record. This made him Britain’s most successful ever Olympic athlete.
The fast time was even more notable considering the first lap was a cautious 58.85. With the 90,000 crowd roaring its approval, Steve Scott decided he had to make it a more honest race and he took the lead at 500 metres and powered through 800m in 1:56.81 with Coe just behind in second.
Scott was not in the same shape as his world silver medal winning form of 1983 and as he slowed he was overtaken by Jose Abascal just before 1000m.
The Spaniard (2:39.04) led at the bell from Coe (2:39.28) who was followed by Cram and Ovett – though the latter who had finished last in the 800m had chest pains and dropped out 350m from the finish to end the dreams of a British clean sweep.
Coe moved up to Abascal’s shoulder at 1200m (2:53.21) to complete a 56.29 third lap. With 200m to go, and just as Cram made a move, Coe responded himself and kicked ahead to go three metres clear on the bend and then kick even faster in the straight, holding his form magnificently, to more than double his margin.
His last lap was a spritely 53.25 and his time took well over two seconds off Kip Keino’s 16-year-old Olympic record of 3:34.91. Cram was not at his fittest after injury but was a clear second in 3:33.40 but Coe seemed unbeatable that day and many think he would have beaten anyone – even today’s best – in that sort of form.
Zurich Weltklasse 1500m, August 22
1st 3:32.39
A 55.0 first lap was promising but the second was a pitiful 60.9 and any record chance went. The bell time was very similar to the Olympics (2:39.2) but this time Coe - looking unbeatable again - blasted a 53.2 final circuit but only worked hard in the final 200m. Scott showed a return to form to place second about eight metres back in 3:33.46.
This was Coe’s fastest time since 1981 and less than half a second from his PB, despite the pacemakers failure. He injured his foot after the race and had to end his season missing a number of races including the 2 miles at the IAC/Coca-Cola meeting.
5x3.5M Chingford Road Relay, March 16
16:37
In his first race for over six months, he maintained his club’s lead on leg three but they lost out on victory due to Basildon's Eamonn Martin’s fastest leg of the day (16:03). Coe was only the fourth fastest of their five-man team.
Thames Valley Road Relay, Cranford, March 30
16:15 (fastest leg)
Running leg three, he set off in tenth place and moved up to third just five seconds off the lead. His time - a second quicker than 1984 - was the fastest overall by 13 seconds from Pete Barratt. His team eventually finished a close second to Aldershot.
Southern 12 Stage Road Relay, Wimbledon, April 14
Short leg: 15:23
He ran the fastest stage on leg six, moving his team to seventh and they ultimately finished fifth. This was much better than his Chingford run and overall only world steeplechase medallist Colin Reitz (15:17) and Martin (15:19) were marginally faster though his performance was overshadowed by Ovett’s 23:23 at the back of the field for the long leg which was easily the day’s fastest.
National 12 Stage Road Relay, Sutton Park, April 27
14:27
Not warmed up properly after a late arrival, he felt a sciatic twinge and eased back and was only sixth fastest overall in moving Haringey from 25th to 19th on leg four and his team finished 16th. Billy Dee (14:00) was fastest which matched Coe’s 1984 time.
British League Division 1 800m, Birmingham, May 11
1st 1:49.37
In his seasonal track debut, he ran his slowest 800m for six years but did run a last lap of around 52.5 in defeating Roland Weedon (1:50.59).
Middlesex Championships 800m, Enfield, May 19
1st 1:44.0
This was his best ever county performance and he ran a 51.0 first lap and then ran a 25.9 200m to pass 600m in 77.0 (sub 1:43 pace) but though slowing he held his form well in a 27.0 last 200m to just miss his UK all-comers' record (1:43.97) from 1978.
He won by five seconds from former European finalist and AAA champion Pete Browne (1:51.0).
European Club Championships 800m/1500m/4x400, Haringey, June 8/9
1st 1:48.37/1st 3:47.27/47.2
He began with the 1500m and a 52 last 400m easily disposed of Olympic bronze medallist Abascal (3:48.14). In the 800m the following day he ran a 25 last 200m in defeating World Indoor Games winner Coloman Trabado. In the relay Haringey finished second with Coe's 47.2 grittily holding off individual 400m winner Angel Heras by a hundredth of a second.
Coventry Games Mile, June 16
1st 3:54.5
He ran Coventry’s first sub-four minute mile with a relaxed 53 final lap to win by 30 metres from Alan Mottershead (3:58.7).
England v USA 800m, Birmingham, June 21
1st 1:46.23
Coe won courtesy of a 25.79 last 200m but was given one of his toughest ever tests in a domestic 800m as Cram (1:46.46 - on the first part of an amazing track season) pressurised him all the way down the straight.
Peugeot Talbot Games 800m, Crystal Palace, July 19
1st 1:44.34
He had missed a month’s racing including the AAA Championships due to illness and niggles and a need to get back into hard training. He was originally scheduled to run against Cram at 1500m but Cram withdrew after setting a world 1500m record earlier in the week and chose to run the following day’s mile and instead Coe decided to switch to the 800m and take on Olympic champion Cruz for a better race but Cruz refused to run against him at late notice.
AAA champion Jose-Luis Barbosa led at a fast pace in 51.08 at 400m but was powerless to deny Coe’s 26.3 last 200m. Barbosa ran 1:45.11.
Bislett Games Mile, Oslo, August 3
3rd 3:49.22
He was just behind Cram at the bell but had no answer to his fellow Briton’s 53.0 last lap, losing contact with 200m to go and finishing almost three seconds behind the world record (3:46.31) with Jose Luis Gonzalez (3:47.79) also passing him.
IAC Grand Prix International Mile, Crystal Palace, August 2
2nd 3:56.89
A lower back problem and pinched nerve stopped him fully striding out on the last lap and he was narrowly beaten by Pierre Deleze (3:56.70) though he did close in the straight.
Zurich Weltklasse 1500m, August 21
2nd 1500m 3:32.13
Coe looked easy at 800m in 1:52.9 and was ahead at the bell in 2:36.58. However, having missed some training he was not at full strength and produce his usual kick and he was unable to drop Deleze who was roared on by a partisan home crowd and sprinted past in the straight to complete a 55 last lap and run a Swiss record 3:31.75 and go ahead of Coe on the all-time list as Coe only missed his PB by 0.18 of a second.
Cologne 800m, August 25
2nd 1:43.07
It was the first time in eight years that he lost four races in a row but it was a top quality race - his fastest non-world record run. He was just behind Cruz at 400m (49.9) and 600m (75.6) but could only manage a 27.5 last 200m as Cruz proved much the stronger and won in a world-leading 1:42.54.
He was due to run a 1500m against Ovett in Brussels the following week but he suffered a recurrence of his back problem and withdrew and ended his season early.
National Indoor 3000m Championships, Cosford, January 25
3rd 7:55.58
The run of losses continued - his first indoors for 10 years - but in his first race of the winter he was very close to his PB when winning this title in 7:55.2 in 1982. He was in contention at 2000m (5:20.8) but was unable to follow the sustained bursts of Billy Dee and Dave Lewis who put in a 2:00 800m with Lewis winning in a track and championships record 7:49.61 from Dee’s 7:49.97.
UK v Hungary Indoor 1500m, Cosford, February 8
1st 3:45.65
He returned to winning ways producing a 26.6 last 200m to defeat team-mate Mark Kirk (3:47.01).
England v USA Indoor 3000m, Cosford
1st 7:54.32 (PB)
Six weeks after his loss to Lewis, he was much fitter this time and he set his first outright PB (barring a 2000m debut) since his world mile record in 1981. At 2000m (5:25.0) he was five seconds down on his January time but he was comfortably able to follow Lewis’s 2:01 800m injection of pace to the bell then power past in the last 80 metres with a 28-second last lap and win by a second from Lewis (7:55.43).
Thames Valley Harriers Relay, Cranford, March 29
3.5M: 16:08
Running on leg three, he took Haringey into the lead with his fastest ever time but he was slower than the Czech Klimes’ twins Pavel (15:57) and Petr (16:02) though a second faster than Keith Penny and Mike Gratton.
Southern 12 Stage Relay, Wimbledon, April 6
3.3M: 15:09 (second fastest)
He moved from 11th to third on leg four with a strong run well over a minute quicker than his five team mates on the short leg. He was second fastest to AAA 10km champion Steve Harris whose 14:48 took four seconds off Ovett’s lap record.
British League Division 1 1500m, Haringey, May 11
1st 3:45.27
In his outdoor track season opener, he ran a 39.8 last 300m to win easily from Alan Salter (3:49.86).
Middlesex Championships 800m, Enfield, May 17
1st 1:47.9
After a slow 55.0 opening lap he kicked in an extravagant 25.7 200m followed by a more modest 27.2.
Madrid 800m, June 4
1st 1:45.66
In windy conditions he led through 400m in 50.8 and though slowing held on to win by over two seconds from world silver medallist and 1:43.56 performer Druppers (1:47.76).
Hengelo 1500m, June 27
1st 3:34.32
Having controversially missed the AAA Championships but still seeking a team spot at both 800m and 1500m at the two Championships, he showed after a minor injury his exceptional form. He enjoyed a clear win over Abascal (3:35.38) in one of the fastest times in the world.
Stockholm, 800m, July 1
2nd 1:44.17
American Johnny Gray won in a world leading 1:43.85. Coe was eight metres behind at 400 (50.8) and was still five metres back at 600m (77.0) and closed it to three at the finish to at least set a then European and Commonwealth leading time for the year which looked promising with the upcoming Championships.
Beverley Baxter 1000m, New River, July 16
1st 2:14.90
In very windy conditions, he was paced to just short of 600m, but eased round to 800m before unleashing a 25.9 last 200m to set a world lead and win by eight seconds from Matt Barnes. The previous lead was Cram’s 2:15.77 a few days earlier.
Peugeot Games 800m, Crystal Palace, July 19
1st 1:44.10
He easily gained revenge on Gray (1:44.72) being just behind the leader at 400m (51.27) and then kicking hard 270m out.
Commonwealth Games 800m, Edinburgh, July 28
3rd semi 1:48.07
After winning his heat in 1:53.13, he struggled four hours later and finished third – a place up on Paul Forbes of Scotland. However the virus which affected his breathing and made him feel the worse he has for any race and he scratched from the final which was impressively won by Cram (1:43.22).
Zurich 1500m, August 13
2nd 3:35.22
He returned after illness and showed good form with a 53 last lap but showed poor concentration as he eased off slightly and was pipped by Scott (3:35.14) on the line.
European Championships 800m, Stuttgart, August 28
1st 1:44.50
Eight years after first trying to win a major outdoor title over two laps, he finally succeeded as he ran one of his greatest tactical races. Last at the bell, he moved up on the outside on the second lap as Tom McKean held Cram off on the final bend before easing past both in the straight as Britain got a historic clean sweep of the medals.
His last 200m was a superb 24.7 though he only won by a metre from an inspired McKean (1:44.60) and a disappointed Cram (1:44.88) who was not at his sharpest after a calf injury and was some way below his Edinburgh form.
European Championships 1500m, Stuttgart, August 31
2nd 3:41.67 (3:39.03 ht)
While he was perfect tactically in the 800m, he was too far back at the bell when Cram made a predictable long kick for home and though he got the gap down to four metres along the back straight, he lost another metre in the last 200m as his rival (3:41.09) ran a superb last 300m of 37.9 and final 400m of 50.9.
Rieti 1500m, September 7
1st 3:29.77 (PB)
Seventeen years earlier, Peter Coe drew up a projected progression in the hope that his son (then aged 13 with a PB of 4:31.8) would see a 3:30 in 1980.
Six years late he reached the target smashing his PB by over two seconds with a world lead but he frustratingly missed the world record by only 0.31 of a second to go equal third all-time behind Said Aouita (3:29.46) and Cram’s (3:29.67) world records.
Through 800m in 1:52, he looked on schedule at 1200m in 2:48.10 (Aouita was only 2:49.4 in his world record). He finished well but not quite as quick as the Moroccan and his 55 last lap left Maree - whose PB he equalled - 25 metres in arrears. The American (and former South African) ran 3:33.44.
McVities 800m, Crystal Palace, September 12
1st 1:44.28
This was announced as his final international 800m and decathlete Eugene Gilkes paced him through 400m in 50.66 and he was alone through 600m in 76.6 which is 1:42 pace.
He found the last 200m tougher though and he covered it in a laboured 27.7 but still won by over two seconds from world junior champion David Sharpe (1:46.40).
Photographs by Mark Shearman
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