What is Steve Ovettt up to?

He moved in 2001 from Scotland to Australia. Up until last year he was doing commentary for IAAF videos. He then left for the Australian lifestyle - I think. I met him last year for the first time. He is an awesome guy. I was a Coe fan, but Ovett is one of the most normal guys in the world. He even gave away one of his Olympic medals!!!

Ovett was the man, if you read his biography he comes across as a fantastic natural athlete and lover of the sport in its natural form. He famously ran a half marathon in the middle of the track season, won titles at 800, 1500 and 5k and had a very long career. People forget he made the final of the 1976 Olympic 800.

I knew he had moved to Scotland and bought an old castle but I wasn't aware of him moving to Australia. If thats so and he has very little involvment in the sport its a great shame. Coe has remained in the limelight as an MP, Lord and general 'hanger on', he has probably profited an awful lot more from the sport than Ovett.

Waz

Any idea what his half marathon time was?

1:05.38 ... and range down to 21.7 for 200...

Steve Ovett was much loved by all athletes in the UK - much more so than Seb Coe. He often turned turned up to run in minor club meetings and was always very approachable and generous. He had a great range of ability and his win in the Commonwealth 5000m in 86 is often overlooked. He beat Jack Buckner who later won the Europeans and took bronze in the World's in 87 and Tim Hutchings who finished 4th in the 84 Olympics. Ovett once said he wasn't bothered about world records he simply ran whatever was required to win a race. He had awesome talent but he trained like a demon too and a had a great personality. Anyone remember the race where Tom Beyer was supposed to be the pace maker? The rest of the field sat back and by the time they gave chase it was too late - Beyer kept going and won. Most of the athletes and the promter were furious but Ovett thought it was hilarious and couldn't stop laughing afterwards. Top man!

Ovett was a fantastic XC runner too, in the late seventies he won the Inter Counties chamionships and often finished in the top 6 in the national champs over 9 miles, this was at a time when Britain had fantastic distance runners, Brendan Foster, Dave Bedford, Tony Simmons, Nick Rose, Charlie Spedding. It was way way tougher than it is now and to make the top 100 was regarded as a great achievement.

A lot of people also forget that in 82 he smashed his knee completely on some railings and missed almost a year yet still came back to win medals. At the LA olympics he was hit by a virus at a time when he says he was the fittest he had ever been, often running two track workouts per day, the doctors said that in LA he was running on about 60% of his normal lung capacity due to his illness but he still made the finals of the 800 and 1500, had he been healthy I think he could have won medals again, maybe even gold.

I think the difference betwen him and a lot of people was that he was still doing the sport for the right reasons and he seemeed to have an affinity with his competitors regardless of their ability for that reason.

And another thing ? Ovett to once told Daley Thompson that the decathlon was "nine Mickey Mouse events and one real one none of you can do properly". :)

While I never got to see Ovett race in person, I can't help but recall the sheer invincibility that he projected in the late 70's. I remember reading the Moscow 1500 results and being shocked that he had not won, but seeing pictures later I thought he looked happy anyway. This in complete contrast to Coe's performance following his 800 debacle. For someone as young and impressionable as I was then, it was hard not to want to be the next Ovett. Should I give up trying soon?!!

Regards,

Monty