Winners of Sussex – A profile of Steve Ovett OBE

Born 9 October 1955, Steve Ovett OBE won gold in the 800 metres at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow and set 5 world records for 1500 metres and a world record at two miles. He won 45 consecutive 1500 and mile races from 1977 to 1980. His arrival on the international stage began a golden era of British middle distance running.

Born in Brighton and educated at Varndean College, Ovett displayed talent to be a footballer, but gave it up for athletics, because he didn’t want to play a sport where he’d have to rely on teammates.

At 18 he won the European Junior title at 800m and a year later won silver at the senior level during the European Championships in Rome. His first Olympic experience came finishing 5th in the 800m at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

The next year saw his prominence recognised when he displayed an astonishing turn of pace, which became known as the ‘kick’, in the last 200m of his race in the IAAF World Cup, leaving Olympic 1500m champion John Walker in his wake. 

In 1978 he raced for the first time against another of the biggest names from the golden era of British Athletics, Sebastian Coe. When they faced each other in the final of the 800m, it appeared to be going to form with Ovett overtaking Coe, only to be passed by the German, Olaf Beyer. Ovett made up for this disappointment by taking gold in the 1500m.

In the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Ovett was favourite for the 1500m title, being unbeaten for 3 years, but first he faced his great rival, Coe in the 800m.  He surprised many by taking Coe on the home straight to win gold, but Coe got his revenge winning the 1500m, with Ovett having to settle for bronze. 

During 1981, Ovett and Coe exchanged world records in the mile 3 times over 9 days. However, the following few years were affected by injury after he tripped and impaled his thigh on some low railings on Church Road while training in Brighton. 

He returned to action in 1983, but his season was again hampered by injuries, and he was only selected for the 1500m in Helsinki, finishing 4th, behind winner Steve Cram.

At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Ovett began to suffer from respiratory problems, only narrowly qualifying for the final, appearing to collapse over the line in 4th. In the final, he was clearly below his best finishing 8th, after which he collapsed and spent two nights in hospital. Against advice, he returned to compete in the 1500m, but while in 4th place at the beginning of the last lap in the final, Ovett dropped out, later collapsing with chest pains, and being taken away on a stretcher.

In August 1986 he won the 5000m at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, but after failing to make the 1988 Olympic team, he finally retired in 1991.

He now lives in Australia and in 2007 a bronze statue of Ovett was erected in Preston Park, Brighton, only to be stolen and replaced in 2012 with a copy of the original which can be seen on Madeira Drive, Brighton seafront.