Sebastian Coe vs Said Aouita - 1500/mile race - Who would win?

Jerry Seinfeld wrote:

Coeva wrote:

Why did Aouita race Cram in 1985 in Nice?

He didn't know Cram was in great form?

It seems like a race he would have avoided.

Probably underestimated Cram's form.

I'm surprised Aouita never broke the mile WR.

He was close a few times.

It is something Coe has on Aouita.

Blofeld wrote:

Jerry Seinfeld wrote:

Probably underestimated Cram's form.

I'm surprised Aouita never broke the mile WR.

He was close a few times.

It is something Coe has on Aouita.

This the closest Aouita ever got.

Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg wrote:

This the closest Aouita ever got.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_GoEO2_8f4

Aouita's stride length is longer than Coe's?

Coe's turnover rate is quicker than Aouita?

Blofeld wrote:

Jerry Seinfeld wrote:

Probably underestimated Cram's form.

I'm surprised Aouita never broke the mile WR.

He was close a few times.

It is something Coe has on Aouita.

Aouita tried to break the WR with every race he ran, and he had a number of attempts at the Mile.

I believe Coe had 3 serious attempts on the Mile WR in his entire career, and each time he did break the world record.

Coe would also have broken Aouita's 1500m WR by a few tenths of a second if he hadn't been impeded by the pacemaker in 86 (when slightly past his best). His 3:31 in Stockholm in 81 when the pacemaker Robinson led him through the first lap in a suicidal 52 seconds (and then dropped out) would likely have been 3:28 at least.

At the end of the day, Aouita avoided Coe like the plague because he knew Coe was better.

Coevett wrote:

Blofeld wrote:

I'm surprised Aouita never broke the mile WR.

He was close a few times.

It is something Coe has on Aouita.

Aouita tried to break the WR with every race he ran, and he had a number of attempts at the Mile.

I believe Coe had 3 serious attempts on the Mile WR in his entire career, and each time he did break the world record.

Coe would also have broken Aouita's 1500m WR by a few tenths of a second if he hadn't been impeded by the pacemaker in 86 (when slightly past his best). His 3:31 in Stockholm in 81 when the pacemaker Robinson led him through the first lap in a suicidal 52 seconds (and then dropped out) would likely have been 3:28 at least.

At the end of the day, Aouita avoided Coe like the plague because he knew Coe was better.

My favourite Coe race.

Almost perfect besides that slight trip.

Coevett wrote:

Aouita tried to break the WR with every race he ran, and he had a number of attempts at the Mile.

At the end of the day, Aouita avoided Coe like the plague because he knew Coe was better.

Coedeppe will not change something he already has convinced himself. Aouita has run many, many races with only one intention: to win the race. This is such an obvious, clear FACT (which can easily be proved by looking on his career record and/or some of his races for example in YouTube) that it is just not deniable. It was told Coedeppe before (which for sure should not be necessary since he must do the research himself before stating such nonsense), yet he prefers to sproud his lie.

The last point is so laughable that it's not easy to give a reply at all. Aouita has avoided some confrontations, that's for sure.

Coe never, correct? Ovett and Coe have avoided each other for their (almost) whole career. Both from the same country (with many, many opportunities to race each other)! Both middle distance runners. In 1977 Coe became the souvereign European Indoor Champ over 800m. Ovett already has won silver at the outdoor Champs in 1974. Direct confrontation in 1977? Nope. 1978? Changing the 800m NR - direct confrontation (outside the Europeans)? Nope. 1979. The two leading middle distance runners in the world. Direct confrontation? Nope. Some rematch after Moscow 1980? Nope. 1981. Both on the absolute hight of their careers. Direct confrontation? Nope. Then some injury problems started. But still many oportunities to race each other in 1982, 1983, 1984. Yet, did it happen outside LA? Nope. Definitely one of the strangest chapters in athletics history. But the only comment Coedeppe can do is: Aouita avoided Coe. There was ONE big opportunitie for a Coe-Aouita match: Zürich 1984. Robert Hartmann, the leading German athletics journalist at the time and a specialist for middle distance running clearly stated that Aouita wanted to be in the 1500m-race but Coe didn't and still Aouita still wasn't that big name as Coe, who also was the big friend of Res Brügger, the organizer of the meet. Coe: "It seems we can't have both...". Also it's much more plausible that Coe was the force behind the no-race, but still I would never claim it as a fact that Coe avoided Aouita. That Coedeppe claims as a fact that Aouita avoided Coe is just pure fear that someone questions Coe's class. What a liar.

Coevett wrote:

Blofeld wrote:

I'm surprised Aouita never broke the mile WR.

He was close a few times.

It is something Coe has on Aouita.

Aouita tried to break the WR with every race he ran, and he had a number of attempts at the Mile.

I believe Coe had 3 serious attempts on the Mile WR in his entire career, and each time he did break the world record.

Coe would also have broken Aouita's 1500m WR by a few tenths of a second if he hadn't been impeded by the pacemaker in 86 (when slightly past his best). His 3:31 in Stockholm in 81 when the pacemaker Robinson led him through the first lap in a suicidal 52 seconds (and then dropped out) would likely have been 3:28 at least.

At the end of the day, Aouita avoided Coe like the plague because he knew Coe was better.

Listen to Aouita's excuse for not racing Cram in 1987 at the Bislett Games.

Bislett 1500m - Crammie starting his 1985 peak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFTjR3OOwGc

Hissou wrote:

Coevett wrote:

Aouita tried to break the WR with every race he ran, and he had a number of attempts at the Mile.

I believe Coe had 3 serious attempts on the Mile WR in his entire career, and each time he did break the world record.

Coe would also have broken Aouita's 1500m WR by a few tenths of a second if he hadn't been impeded by the pacemaker in 86 (when slightly past his best). His 3:31 in Stockholm in 81 when the pacemaker Robinson led him through the first lap in a suicidal 52 seconds (and then dropped out) would likely have been 3:28 at least.

At the end of the day, Aouita avoided Coe like the plague because he knew Coe was better.

Listen to Aouita's excuse for not racing Cram in 1987 at the Bislett Games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZAh5hqQrjg

Hahaha, yeah I saw that the other day. I think there's several interviews of Aouita making excuses on YouTube now, I'll have to make a montage of them sometime.

Amazing to think as well that Aouita was still too scared to take on Cram in the World Championships that year over 1500m. After Bislett it must have been obvious he was in much better shape and this was his chance to win a major 1500 title, but still waited until 88 when he thought all the Brits were washed up.

geordie boy wrote:

Bislett 1500m - Crammie starting his 1985 peak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFTjR3OOwGc

One of my favourite Cram races. He actually had more problems with his calves in the week or two after this race and surprisingly lost to Tom McKean in an 800m. So despite this race and the obvious form he displayed, he wasn't even being talked about much in the runup to his WR race with Aouita in Nice, were the talk was (incredibly) of Cruz breaking the 1500 WR (LOL)!!

So Cram wasn't even in his very best shape when he beat Aouita in Nice. That came 3 weeks or so later when he smashed the Mile WR and looked capable of running 3:45 or even quicker. Crammy would absolutely have destroyed Aouita that night if they had raced.

Coevett wrote:

geordie boy wrote:

Bislett 1500m - Crammie starting his 1985 peak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFTjR3OOwGc

One of my favourite Cram races. He actually had more problems with his calves in the week or two after this race and surprisingly lost to Tom McKean in an 800m. So despite this race and the obvious form he displayed, he wasn't even being talked about much in the runup to his WR race with Aouita in Nice, were the talk was (incredibly) of Cruz breaking the 1500 WR (LOL)!!

So Cram wasn't even in his very best shape when he beat Aouita in Nice. That came 3 weeks or so later when he smashed the Mile WR and looked capable of running 3:45 or even quicker. Crammy would absolutely have destroyed Aouita that night if they had raced.

Lol you imbecile. You totally ignored being owned by said88.

You tool.

Coevett wrote:

Hissou wrote:

Listen to Aouita's excuse for not racing Cram in 1987 at the Bislett Games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZAh5hqQrjg

Hahaha, yeah I saw that the other day. I think there's several interviews of Aouita making excuses on YouTube now, I'll have to make a montage of them sometime.

What other excuses has Aouita used?

Jacklovelock wrote:

"Aouita was a man. Coe was protecting his ego."

Let's be brutally honest - both were protecting their egos. Given that Aouita was totally upfront about doing the 5000 in LA because it gave him his best chance of winning a gold medal, not sure he can be regarded as stronger or tougher than Coe.

To be fair to Aouita, the LA 5000 was one of the toughest races to win in those Olympics. 13.05 back in 1984 was an unbelievable time, particularly in a major championship final.

If Coe was ever protecting his ego, he would not have ran against Paul Ereng in 1989 when he knew he was past his prime.

Pius XIII wrote:

Jacklovelock wrote:

"Aouita was a man. Coe was protecting his ego."

Let's be brutally honest - both were protecting their egos. Given that Aouita was totally upfront about doing the 5000 in LA because it gave him his best chance of winning a gold medal, not sure he can be regarded as stronger or tougher than Coe.

To be fair to Aouita, the LA 5000 was one of the toughest races to win in those Olympics. 13.05 back in 1984 was an unbelievable time, particularly in a major championship final.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltifOEDjmpA

If Coe was ever protecting his ego, he would not have ran against Paul Ereng in 1989 when he knew he was past his prime.

Agreed. Or run against Cram in Oslo 85 after a month out with injury and having seen Cram break 3:30 a week or so earlier. It was Coe’s first international race over 1500 or mile that year and he knew he wasn’t in his best form.

Btw, happy Birthday to Seb Coe, 62 today!

Lord Altrincham wrote:

Coevett wrote:

I agree that Gonzalez is underrated, but you're discrediting your own argument if you are suggesting he was better than Coe. What injury was he suffering from in 86 in Stuttgart? Gonzalez would have beaten Aouita in 87 in the same race he beat Cram and ran the only sub 50 sec final 1500.

Did Aouita run in the WC 5000m instead of the 1500m because it was an easier win?

Yes he did, he admitted that himself in an interview in the lead up to the championships.

If the 1984 Olympics wasn't boycotted, would have Aouita still have won the 5000m gold?

I am sure Coe still would have won.

How could there be so many posts on this thread? Coe had a little more top end speed and Aouita was a little stronger. That's it.

We should move on to Ginger vs Mary Ann or"Tastes Great, Less Filling". For the record, Ginger would make your life miserable and Miller Lite sucks

Aouita be da man! ?

He was the start of the Morrocan power in the following decades where the Morrocans really took it to the Kenyans & Ethiopians!

I like Morrocan runners!