Former marathon world record-holder invited former rivals to view statue from behind "because they would recognise it better that way".

Steve Jones won many honours during his world record-breaking athletics career but none of them could have topped the moment he had unveiling a statue of himself that now stands proudly in his hometown of Ebbw Vale.

The man who dominated the marathon on a global stage in the mid-Eighties, winning in Chicago twice and in London, was made a Freeman of the county borough of Blaenau Gwent earlier in the year and has now become the first person in Ebbw Vale to have a statue dedicated to him.

They came from far and wide on Friday (Sept 12) to join in the special celebration, with many of Jones’ old foes and international team-mates congregating to congratulate him on his latest. There was an impromptu reunion of five of the 1984 British Olympic team as Jones was joined by Tim Hutchings, Geoff Smith, Steve Barry and Nick Rose.

Steve Binns joined in the celebration, along with Dave Bedford, and a host of Jones’ former Newport Harriers and Welsh team-mates – Dale Rixon, Ieuan Ellis, Kenny Davies, Nigel Adams, Adrian Brown, as well as his old coach, Mike Rowland.

It was an occasion that left Jones, who has lived in Boulder, Colorado, for the past 35 years, truly humbled.

“It is a huge honour for me to be remembered in this way in a town that has always meant so much to me. It’s been an incredible day,” said Jones, who turned 70 earlier in the year, after unveiling his statue.

“When the statue project was first raised, I wasn’t sure whether or not it would happen, but now I’m here standing beside it, it is almost surreal.

“It’s always lovely to come home, but this time was extra special. I can’t believe the people of Blaenau Gwent are doing this for me – and all because I did a bit of running.”

The statue has been seven years in the planning from the day Lee Aherne, chair of Parc Bryn Bach running club, first put the idea to the local council. Eventually, with help from Cllr Sue Edmunds, the dream became a reality and the statue now stands proudly outside the entrance to the Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre.

Covid initially slowed things down but the partnership between the partnership between Blaenau Gwent Council, Parc Bryn Bach Running Club, and the Aneurin Leisure Trust, with support from crowdfunding and the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, eventually culminated in this week's great occasion.

“Steve is a Welsh sporting icon and deserves every accolade that comes his way. I hope this statue will inspire future generations to take up running and hopefully help my club, Parc Bryn Bach, to become the best in Wales,” said Aherne.

Jones first launched his running career while a cadet in the Air Training Corps in Ebbw Vale when he was 16. From those first steps taken in a cross country race was born one of the greatest sporting careers of any Welsh athlete.

Already included on the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame’s ‘Roll of Honour’, an inductee of the Colorado and New York Running Halls of Fame, the Boulder Sports Hall of Fame and is a former winner of the Welsh Sports Personality of the Year award, Jones is now frozen in time in his home town crossing the finishing line in at the 1984 Chicago Marathon in the fastest time the world had ever seen – 2:08:05.

He would go even faster a year later, 2:07:13, in getting to within one second of the latest world record set by Portugal’s Carlos Lopes, and he also broke the world half-marathon record. That time stood as the British record for 33 years until Mo Farah lowered it to 2:06:21.

“Steve is a true legend whose story captures the very soul of Blaenau Gwent. From the streets of Ebbw Vale to the global stage, his journey is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Cllr Edmunds.

“His humility, even in the face of world-record-breaking success, speaks volumes about the strength of his character. Steve isn’t just a running icon – he’s one of us.

“His achievements continue to inspire generations, proving that with grit, passion, and perseverance, greatness is within reach. His statue will stand as a powerful symbol of what’s possible and remind us that ambition, resilience, and belief in yourself can take you anywhere.”

“Every race director in the world wanted Steve Jones in their marathon field and we were delighted when he came to London in 1985 and had a great battle with Charlie Spedding,” said Bedford. "His winning time was a course record that stood until 1997.

“I’m just so delighted he is being honoured in this way in his hometown. He was a world-class athlete who was not only very well loved and respected in his local community, but by athletes across the world.”

Hutchings said: “He was as hard as nails and I love the fact he was from Ebbw Vale, which was virtually the world centre of steel making. And now he is literally made of steel in the statue.

“He was as tough as steel to race against. The things he achieved to become the fastest marathon runner of all time is amazing.

“There are a billion runners on the planet now, so if you are a world record-holder you are pretty special.”

After the unveiling, Jones invited all the runners in the audience – “apart from Dave Bedford” – to come behind it and take a look because he felt they would better recognise him from the back.