FOOTNOTES
December 26th, 2012

~ Sebastian Coe - Born to Run ~

A look back at the glory days of 800meter - 1500 meter and mile track races involving Seb Coe, who was the man behind the London Olympics, Steve Ovett, Coe's rival, and their successor Steve Cram.  The videos tell a very compelling story of a father and son, of coach and a boy born to run.  Very inspirational.   When every body said Coe has no where to go but down, after his world record breaking victories, he father noted there was one other option .... to go to the side ... as Coe raced against the best in the world.   That's what made this era so wonderful.

 

 

~ A Brief History ~

1956:

Born, 29 September
 

1979:
Broke three world records in 41 days
 
1980:
1500m Olympic gold, 800m silver
 
1984:
1500m Olympic gold, 800m silver
.
Seb Coe may have won two Olympic golds and smashed 12 world records, but his achievement in leading London to victory in being chsoen to host the Olympics perhaps eclipsed them all. His speech to the IOC clinched the deal.    It is the power of the Olympics to inspire young boys ans girls and even older men and women.  


"When I was 12 years old I was marched into a large school hall with my classmates and we watched grainy pictures from the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games," he told the delegates.   "Two athletes from our home town were competing. John Sherwood won a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles. His wife Sheila just narrowly missed gold in the long jump.   "By the time I was back in my classroom, I knew what I wanted to do - and what I wanted to be. Thirty-five years on, I stand before you with those memories still fresh. Still inspired by this great movement."

 
 
~<>0<>0<>0<>0<>~
 

When growing up in Northern Ireland, track and field was as popular as soccer, especially in the 80's when Coe, Steve Ovett and Steve Cram were running against the likes of John Walker, Steve Scott, Eamonn Goghlan, and Henry Rono to name a few of the big names of that day.


 
Here is six segments of the Story of Seb Coe, coached by his father, who as a coach was very insightful regarding his son who was born to run.  Enjoy!
 
to see the videos and hear the story go to http://runningrevsreflections.blogspot.ca/
 
the running rev!