And Steve was cruising down the home straight,even had a look round.Also what a great gesture from Steve to go straight upto the German runner after the race and hold his hand aloft.Thats class.
This is still the German record. Allthough Coe and Cram achieved better results later on, I regard Ovett as the most talented British miler. It has allways been a pleasure to watch him run. He had great running style like Herb Eliot and Jim Ruyn.
It would be interesting to see a peak Ovett in a more recent fast race with the likes of Cheryiot or Ingebritsen. Seems like he had easily a second per lap of running left in him. Which would put him close to current standards.
Gutted that Coe and ovett only meeting in the golden league in a big meeting he had a slight injury in Zurich 1979 which was live in the UK on BBC , had to settle for only Coe who broke the world record.
We will never know how good Ovett really was. Always relied on someone else to take the pace on until he was ready for his final burst. Had he not taken it so casual in some of his races and took the pace on himself he would easily have broken 3:30 and probably ran quicker than Coe and Cram also. Definitely the best middle distance runner ever from the UK.
If he had taken off 350 meters to go in this race, or sooner, he probably would have run 3:29, because he takes off so unchallenged with 100m to go, and isn't tired at all at the end. This is why I think he would have beaten HelG all the time.
We do know how good Steve Ovett was. He did leave a lot of evidence. Between 1977 and 1980, he was unbeaten at 1500m or the mile for 42 consecutive races. He broke the world record for the two miles in 1978, beating Henry Rono when he was at his peak season having himself broken 4 world records, and Steve beat him with ease. He set multiple British records before Coe was even heard of. He won European medals at the age of 18. He beat every rival in his peak years (1977 - 1980) until the Moscow 1500m.He was capable of 3:28 for 1500m, 1:42 for 800m, 3:45 for the mile, sub 13:00 for 5000m, probably 12:50 even. He raced to win, not to just run fast. The joy was in the win, not the effort. So whatever it took, whoever he faced, at whatever the pace, he could do it. There has been no British athlete since Steve Ovett with that capability. This race proves it. When Cook dropped out, Ovett just slowed down and waited for someone to pass him. He didn't care about the pace or the record. They ran just under 55 seconds for that last lap. But if Wessinghage had run a 52 second lap, Ovett would have run a 51 second lap just to win the race. That's not to take anything away from Coe or Cram; I rate them all as dead even - at 3:28 for the 1500m, just ahead of Mo Farah, who only ran the 1500 for fun and has the fastest time. The reason for me having rated them at 3:28 is that they were all psychologically weak on the 3rd lap; if they had had the competition available to them, they would not have had a choice and would have been forced to be competitive on the third lap, bringing them to the 3:28 standard.
Another tremendously deep field of quality 1500 meter talent. Three under the World record OMG what a Race of gifted athletes and they make it look so EASY!!!
38 years have passed since ovett ran 50*6 on the second lap in Moscow 1980!!!!!!!!!!!!! Destroying Coe and every attempt in a major championship since!!!!!!! No one black, white yellow whatever in 38 years has run that quick since!!!!!!! No wonder seb was floundering all over the place in lane two and three!!!!!! Legend!!!!
Maybe so; the first lap was very very very slow 55sec. Seb Coe should have known better. (Coe was the new WR holder and first under 1:43. Ovett's fastest 800 was 1:44.03, European record at the time before Coe took the WR; call it nerves?????).50.6 is impressive for the second half of the race. That being said; The current world record holder David Rodisha's splits was 49.28/51.63=1:40.91WR leading all the way. That's impressive!!!!!!
Partly due to not bowing to the press, like Coe, running in that russian vest, and had the greatest pacemaker, friend 😉 , who happened to be German ( Thomas wessihage !!!!!) Oh yeah not just waving to the crowds but equalling sebs world record 1500 Oslo 1980.waving to the crowds and looking like he had just finished a ⛅ Sunday stroll (3:32'09) which enabled ovett to shatter coes will going into the 800 metres !!!!!!!!!!! Ovett was a punk rock athlete who never sold out you see ????
I,m convinced this is partly why ovett never got knighted !!!! Total jealousy of a kid who ran a four minute at the tender age of 16 , 17 ??????? Fukkin beyond belief !!!!!!!!!!
@@pernskyw1289 im convinced that ovett was capable of running 1:42' that day in Moscow,,, coe was suffering from a leg injury and a slipped disc!!!!!! Coe was not moving as he was the year before and only ran1:44'7 in 1980: then got beat by Don paige a few days after this,,, ovett truly was down to win this after what happened 4 years earlier in Montreal!!!! Running 1:44,0 in 1978 _was not ovetts ultimate time for 800_had the first lap in Moscow been 49_50 ovett would have not just run under 1:44,0 he would have smashed 1:43 because like Steve ovett WAS THAT GOOD!!!!!!!!
A fantastic run by Steve Ovett... this was another of his brilliant races where had he been pushed earlier in the race, he could undoubtedly have gone quicker. Thanks for posting this video. Great memories...
Ovett was in rare form that year, the disaster of the Chruch Gate incident still in the future. When the pacemaker drops out he slows markedly, looks around and when Wessinghage passes he accelerates again. I would estimate a second lost there at least. A great run none the less.
Awesome display of speed by Ovett. Those were great days; the rivalry with Coe and then came Steve Cram. We won't see those times again. Who have we now????
This came 2 weeks after losing out to Coe in the Olympic 1500m final. What a way to come back with a vengeance. Seb Coe was polished and trained to perfection by his father, but Steve Ovett was a natural born runner.
If he had taken off 350 meters to go in this race, or sooner, he probably would have run 3:29, because he takes off so unchallenged with 100m to go, and isn't tired at all at the end. This is why I think he would have beaten HelG all the time.
What a great way to finish the 1980 season - stamped his claim to being the world's top miler after his 1500M bronze in Moscow. If he's gone at 250M out he might have gone inside 3.30 that day. I don't think he realised it was so fast.
@@redrum4100 The public do nominate. I don't even thin the public should be allowed to nominate for honours. Most people are not qualified to make decisions.
Us as a nation of pampered pampering baby wipes,,,,ask the public who had more influence between EDDY THE EAGLE/BIG DADDY/ STEVE OVETT/ YOU CAN SEE THE GENERAL IDEA,,, THE MENTALITY THAT YOU ARE UP AGAINST!!!!!!!!!! A NATION OF SOPPY NO HOPERS,,,ALL TOGETHER NOW,,,, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH !!!!!!!!! (FUCK OFF !!!!!!!!)
Ovettt is the prolific mile world record holder in history. He has set more world records at 1500m and 1 mile, than any other miler in the last 100 years. More than Coe, Snell, Elliot, Ryan, Moceli, Aouita etc etc etc etc etc.
possibly steves finest but most infuriating race.he wins the race with a mini kick and gets the world record,crikey if he had gone earlier.....btw i think wessinghagge ran a great race gambling that steve was tired
@@mathematics5573 ovett was unreal.the heat and smog finished him.in terms of natural ability especially for range of distances,hes way out front-people could argue aouita maybe but not for me. his strenghts were upwards..the 83 world championships when ovett was unfit/unconfident/injured for years before...he ran a terrible race and was still a metre off aouita who got the bronze.and no-one ever beat/set world records jogging and waving the the crowd.....except mr ovett.ive said it on here and i will say it again-over 1500 and the mile,a peak ovett was and still would be unbeatable
Near perfecting pacing - 56 57 first laps for Ovett more or less and Wessinghage taking the lead ensured Ovett could run a 56 last lap. It is why he was surprised he got the record - felt too easy and other runners benefited from even pacing too. Imagine what Coe would have run if he had run a 56 and 57 sec first + 2nd lap in Stockholm in 81.
looking at this race,the olympics,1976- 1980,-1984, was robbed,of the golden period,of middle distance runners,with the boycott,by the time off 1988,olympics the golden period ,was over,for the likes of coe overt cram walker,wessinhage,hudak,scott,,that why in the 80s the world championship,was the olympic games,83,87.which coe missed both ,which was a unlucky
He almost stopped at one point and didn't make the best of his running...and still broke the world record. I always liked Steve, never liked sulking Coe who went on to become a sleazy politician..and a Lord ha ha!
Well, Ovett used a lot of kidology. He certainly looked like he had a lot left here but I doubt it. At their peaks, I think Cram had the running tactics - and ability - beat Ovett, and probably Coe because Cram's long surge for home was very harder to counter.
I disagree. I think at his best , Ovett could have beaten Cram. Ovett set more WRs than Cram. Ovett could kick off any pace. He did it in two WR paced races.
@@mathematics5573 Cram was faster than Ovett -significantly - over 800m, 1000m,1500m, One Mile and 2000m. No, at their peaks, Cram would have run the legs off Steve,
@@musik102 Over 800m yes. but over 100m to 400m, Ovett was faster. 11, 21, 47. In two of Ovetts races that were at WR pace, he was in 2nd place until 100m to go and then kicked into the lead and wonhis 1500m 3.31.3 and his 2 mile WR.. That was one of Ovetts best weapons. Ovett could also win cross country. You forgot that Ovett wasn't very interested in WR in the early part of his career, he just ran to win. Whereas Cram often ran for fast times. But when Ovett put his mind to it, he set more WR than Cram. In his WR 1500m run of 1980, 3.31.3 or 2, he took the lead with 100m to go. Usually in WR 1500m and mile races, the winner takes to the lead from 400 to 800m out. If he had taken the lead 300m earlier, i think he would have run 3.29 that day.
@@musik102 Ovett never ran 2000m. I think he could have set a WR at 2000m, but he wasn't interested. he set a 2 mile WR and 1609m WRs. He probably could have set a 3000m WR.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
And Steve was cruising down the home straight,even had a look round.Also what a great gesture from Steve to go straight upto the German runner after the race and hold his hand aloft.Thats class.
That's Dr Thomas Wessinghage
This is still the German record. Allthough Coe and Cram achieved better results later on, I regard Ovett as the most talented British miler. It has allways been a pleasure to watch him run. He had great running style like Herb Eliot and Jim Ruyn.
With the ease and tactics involved in this victory, it's clear that Ovett's max potential would situate him very well even today.
It would be interesting to see a peak Ovett in a more recent fast race with the likes of Cheryiot or Ingebritsen. Seems like he had easily a second per lap of running left in him. Which would put him close to current standards.
Gutted that Coe and ovett only meeting in the golden league in a big meeting he had a slight injury in Zurich 1979 which was live in the UK on BBC , had to settle for only Coe who broke the world record.
Still the German record!
Best middle distance specimen ive ever seen. Was just so easy for him he was always in position to strike because he is well within his comfort zone.
😮ovett was by far the best 1500 and dream mile runner ever
We will never know how good Ovett really was. Always relied on someone else to take the pace on until he was ready for his final burst. Had he not taken it so casual in some of his races and took the pace on himself he would easily have broken 3:30 and probably ran quicker than Coe and Cram also. Definitely the best middle distance runner ever from the UK.
It's a pity we couldn't appreciate Ovett and Coe at the time..
If he had taken off 350 meters to go in this race, or sooner, he probably would have run 3:29, because he takes off so unchallenged with 100m to go, and isn't tired at all at the end. This is why I think he would have beaten HelG all the time.
we did. we just haven't had anyone like them since.
We do know how good Steve Ovett was. He did leave a lot of evidence. Between 1977 and 1980, he was unbeaten at 1500m or the mile for 42 consecutive races. He broke the world record for the two miles in 1978, beating Henry Rono when he was at his peak season having himself broken 4 world records, and Steve beat him with ease. He set multiple British records before Coe was even heard of. He won European medals at the age of 18. He beat every rival in his peak years (1977 - 1980) until the Moscow 1500m.He was capable of 3:28 for 1500m, 1:42 for 800m, 3:45 for the mile, sub 13:00 for 5000m, probably 12:50 even. He raced to win, not to just run fast. The joy was in the win, not the effort. So whatever it took, whoever he faced, at whatever the pace, he could do it. There has been no British athlete since Steve Ovett with that capability. This race proves it. When Cook dropped out, Ovett just slowed down and waited for someone to pass him. He didn't care about the pace or the record. They ran just under 55 seconds for that last lap. But if Wessinghage had run a 52 second lap, Ovett would have run a 51 second lap just to win the race. That's not to take anything away from Coe or Cram; I rate them all as dead even - at 3:28 for the 1500m, just ahead of Mo Farah, who only ran the 1500 for fun and has the fastest time. The reason for me having rated them at 3:28 is that they were all psychologically weak on the 3rd lap; if they had had the competition available to them, they would not have had a choice and would have been forced to be competitive on the third lap, bringing them to the 3:28 standard.
gakaface definitely!!!!!! you are right!!!!!!! Beautifully written!!!!!!!
Love this period of middle distance running. Probably due to the character of Ovett.
Even today, to be able to kick off that sort of pace is quite stunning. On his day, against any opposition, Ovett was simply untouchable.
Another tremendously deep field of quality 1500 meter talent. Three under the World record OMG what a Race of gifted athletes and they make it look so EASY!!!
38 years have passed since ovett ran 50*6 on the second lap in Moscow 1980!!!!!!!!!!!!! Destroying Coe and every attempt in a major championship since!!!!!!! No one black, white yellow whatever in 38 years has run that quick since!!!!!!! No wonder seb was floundering all over the place in lane two and three!!!!!! Legend!!!!
Maybe so; the first lap was very very very slow 55sec. Seb Coe should have known better. (Coe was the new WR holder and first under 1:43. Ovett's fastest 800 was 1:44.03, European record at the time before Coe took the WR; call it nerves?????).50.6 is impressive for the second half of the race. That being said; The current world record holder David Rodisha's splits was 49.28/51.63=1:40.91WR leading all the way. That's impressive!!!!!!
Partly due to not bowing to the press, like Coe, running in that russian vest, and had the greatest pacemaker, friend 😉 , who happened to be German ( Thomas wessihage !!!!!) Oh yeah not just waving to the crowds but equalling sebs world record 1500 Oslo 1980.waving to the crowds and looking like he had just finished a ⛅ Sunday stroll (3:32'09) which enabled ovett to shatter coes will going into the 800 metres !!!!!!!!!!! Ovett was a punk rock athlete who never sold out you see ????
I,m convinced this is partly why ovett never got knighted !!!! Total jealousy of a kid who ran a four minute at the tender age of 16 , 17 ??????? Fukkin beyond belief !!!!!!!!!!
@@pernskyw1289 im convinced that ovett was capable of running 1:42' that day in Moscow,,, coe was suffering from a leg injury and a slipped disc!!!!!! Coe was not moving as he was the year before and only ran1:44'7 in 1980: then got beat by Don paige a few days after this,,, ovett truly was down to win this after what happened 4 years earlier in Montreal!!!! Running 1:44,0 in 1978 _was not ovetts ultimate time for 800_had the first lap in Moscow been 49_50 ovett would have not just run under 1:44,0 he would have smashed 1:43 because like Steve ovett WAS THAT GOOD!!!!!!!!
@@simonedwards8888 He was the Joe Strummer not Sid Vicious of track. Coe was the George Michael of track!!!
A fantastic run by Steve Ovett... this was another of his brilliant races where had he been pushed earlier in the race, he could undoubtedly have gone quicker. Thanks for posting this video. Great memories...
Ovett was in rare form that year, the disaster of the Chruch Gate incident still in the future. When the pacemaker drops out he slows markedly, looks around and when Wessinghage passes he accelerates again. I would estimate a second lost there at least. A great run none the less.
Brilliance of Ovett, Coe and cram. Pre EPO and HGH era.
Very difficult to crack 3.30 without drugs if not super talented
Awesome display of speed by Ovett. Those were great days; the rivalry with Coe and then came Steve Cram. We won't see those times again. Who have we now????
Kerr?
This came 2 weeks after losing out to Coe in the Olympic 1500m final. What a way to come back with a vengeance. Seb Coe was polished and trained to perfection by his father, but Steve Ovett was a natural born runner.
If he had taken off 350 meters to go in this race, or sooner, he probably would have run 3:29, because he takes off so unchallenged with 100m to go, and isn't tired at all at the end. This is why I think he would have beaten HelG all the time.
His favourite track!
ONE OF MY IDOLS IS OVETT AND OTHER ONE IS WESSINGHAGE
Ovett was never fully tested, at his best in 1978 to 1981 he was the best of all time.
Yes, he was fully tested, but he NEVER gave it 100% for the whole race. The world will never know just how fast he could've gone.
@@kurtfrancis4621so do you think even when he broke world records, he wasn’t giving it 100%? And why wouldn’t have he?
@@kurtfrancis4621Of course he gave it 100%, to say he didn’t is an insult!
What a great way to finish the 1980 season - stamped his claim to being the world's top miler after his 1500M bronze in Moscow. If he's gone at 250M out he might have gone inside 3.30 that day. I don't think he realised it was so fast.
WESSINGHAGE IS MY IDOL
He certainly had guts. Beaten so many times by Ovett Coe and Cram but tried over and over. Love him for this.
I always considered Steve Ovett at his best in the late 70's and early 80's to have been the best middle distance runner ever bar none.
agree. he would have challenged anyone in any era.
@Jesus Christ Superstar beat coe at 800m in Prague 1978, Moscow 1980. Ovett the supreme competitor.
Ran faster than any man has done the 1500m before. Came third!
80/81 the glory days of British middle distance running!
Tremendous pace setting there by Wessinhage. Shame Sebastian Coe never benefited with such pace-setting or his records would still stand today!
Yeah right. Faster than El Guerrouj? It only my legs and lungs and talent and ability were better, I'd be a world record holder
@@stoolpigeon4285Yes, faster than El Guerrouj, if he also had the benefit of EPO 👍
@@stoolpigeon4285 And if El G had been born 10 years earlier or 10 years later, he likely would never have broken 3:32.
@@garetht9666 how disrespectful to the goat
How come all these guys from niche sports rowers,sailors and cyclists are knighted but great Steve Ovett is not
MARCUS PATTERSON cos he spoke out about cheats
because the public who vote are crap. Maybe Ovett has rejected one.
@@francishooton3933 Public don't get a say in who is knighted. They voted him as sports personality of the year.
@@redrum4100 The public do nominate. I don't even thin the public should be allowed to nominate for honours. Most people are not qualified to make decisions.
Us as a nation of pampered pampering baby wipes,,,,ask the public who had more influence between EDDY THE EAGLE/BIG DADDY/ STEVE OVETT/ YOU CAN SEE THE GENERAL IDEA,,, THE MENTALITY THAT YOU ARE UP AGAINST!!!!!!!!!! A NATION OF SOPPY NO HOPERS,,,ALL TOGETHER NOW,,,, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH !!!!!!!!! (FUCK OFF !!!!!!!!)
Gary Cook, wasn't that the husband of Cathy Cook, the 100m champion?
Yep!
Ovettt is the prolific mile world record holder in history. He has set more world records at 1500m and 1 mile, than any other miler in the last 100 years. More than Coe, Snell, Elliot, Ryan, Moceli, Aouita etc etc etc etc etc.
Gunder Hägg broke three mile and three 1500m, total six against Ovett's five.
Is that Coe on commentary?
possibly steves finest but most infuriating race.he wins the race with a mini kick and gets the world record,crikey if he had gone earlier.....btw i think wessinghagge ran a great race gambling that steve was tired
I reckon he'd have run sub 3.30 if he'd done 300-400m earlier. 3.29.
@@mathematics5573 ovett was unreal.the heat and smog finished him.in terms of natural ability especially for range of distances,hes way out front-people could argue aouita maybe but not for me. his strenghts were upwards..the 83 world championships when ovett was unfit/unconfident/injured for years before...he ran a terrible race and was still a metre off aouita who got the bronze.and no-one ever beat/set world records jogging and waving the the crowd.....except mr ovett.ive said it on here and i will say it again-over 1500 and the mile,a peak ovett was and still would be unbeatable
Near perfecting pacing - 56 57 first laps for Ovett more or less and Wessinghage taking the lead ensured Ovett could run a 56 last lap. It is why he was surprised he got the record - felt too easy and other runners benefited from even pacing too. Imagine what Coe would have run if he had run a 56 and 57 sec first + 2nd lap in Stockholm in 81.
3 x 1500m world records he ended up with. Last man to do it was in the 1940's.
If you're not collapsing at the end you didn't go all out. Amazing that he could have gone a bit faster.
looking at this race,the olympics,1976- 1980,-1984, was robbed,of the golden period,of middle distance runners,with the boycott,by the time off 1988,olympics the golden period ,was over,for the likes of coe overt cram walker,wessinhage,hudak,scott,,that why in the 80s the world championship,was the olympic games,83,87.which coe missed both ,which was a unlucky
He almost stopped at one point and didn't make the best of his running...and still broke the world record. I always liked Steve, never liked sulking Coe who went on to become a sleazy politician..and a Lord ha ha!
Ovett decelerated at the end...
ممممممم دعاني لبيته
Well, Ovett used a lot of kidology. He certainly looked like he had a lot left here but I doubt it. At their peaks, I think Cram had the running tactics - and ability - beat Ovett, and probably Coe because Cram's long surge for home was very harder to counter.
I disagree. I think at his best , Ovett could have beaten Cram. Ovett set more WRs than Cram. Ovett could kick off any pace. He did it in two WR paced races.
@@mathematics5573 Cram was faster than Ovett -significantly - over 800m, 1000m,1500m, One Mile and 2000m. No, at their peaks, Cram would have run the legs off Steve,
@@musik102 I disagree.
@@musik102 Over 800m yes. but over 100m to 400m, Ovett was faster. 11, 21, 47. In two of Ovetts races that were at WR pace, he was in 2nd place until 100m to go and then kicked into the lead and wonhis 1500m 3.31.3 and his 2 mile WR.. That was one of Ovetts best weapons. Ovett could also win cross country. You forgot that Ovett wasn't very interested in WR in the early part of his career, he just ran to win. Whereas Cram often ran for fast times. But when Ovett put his mind to it, he set more WR than Cram. In his WR 1500m run of 1980, 3.31.3 or 2, he took the lead with 100m to go. Usually in WR 1500m and mile races, the winner takes to the lead from 400 to 800m out. If he had taken the lead 300m earlier, i think he would have run 3.29 that day.
@@musik102 Ovett never ran 2000m. I think he could have set a WR at 2000m, but he wasn't interested. he set a 2 mile WR and 1609m WRs. He probably could have set a 3000m WR.
No, it is not!