August 31, 2025

August 28, 1981 - 3rd mile world record in 9 days between Sebastian Coe & Steve Ovett

10 minutes

Today is Thursday, August 28th, 2025 and on this day in 1981, English phenom Sebastian Coe reclaimed his mile world record from fellow Brit Steve Ovett, marking the third time the duo had traded the record in just 9 days.

In this episode we’ll learn more about the 2 men who dominated middle distance running for the first half of the 1980s, the 5 times in 23 months that they traded marathon world records, and the third Brit who claimed the record just 4 years later.

Today is "Let’s Run Theresday", powered by Brooks Running. Quick disclaimer that they are not a paid sponsor of the podcast, but my partnership allows me to earn commissions when y’all use my affiliate link.

The Labor Day sale is LIVE with great deals on some of my favorite shoes, including the Ghost Max 2. AND you get 25% off of apparel when you purchase any pair of shoes! Check it out here.

Bibliography:

https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NYMyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YucFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6706%2C3984125

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/apr/18/50-olympic-moments-coe-ovett-moscow-1980

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/9664314/Running-My-Life-The-Autobiography-by-Seb-Coe-review.html

https://archive.ph/20130131214231/http://postcodegazette.com/news/9002024837/london-2012-chairman-lord-coe-visits-his-old-school-AT-sheffield-tapton-secondary-school/

https://web.archive.org/web/20090412105803/http://www.made-in-sheffield.com/People/sebastianCoe.htm

https://www.teamgb.com/article/seb-coe-versus-steve-ovett-re-visiting-moscow-1980/5Nw7st6GkR1ducwGqpJoFk

https://scottishathletics.org.nz/2019/08/26/rivalry/

https://www.oregonlive.com/history/2016/08/olympics_1500-meter_glory_when.html

https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a20806272/ovett-recalls-fabled-rivalry-with-coe/

...more

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By Hillary Barrett

August 31, 2025

August 28, 1981 - 3rd mile world record in 9 days between Sebastian Coe & Steve Ovett

10 minutes

The Labor Day sale is LIVE with great deals on some of my favorite shoes, including the Ghost Max 2. AND you get 25% off of apparel when you purchase any pair of shoes! Check it out here.

Bibliography:

https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NYMyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YucFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6706%2C3984125

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/apr/18/50-olympic-moments-coe-ovett-moscow-1980

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/9664314/Running-My-Life-The-Autobiography-by-Seb-Coe-review.html

https://archive.ph/20130131214231/http://postcodegazette.com/news/9002024837/london-2012-chairman-lord-coe-visits-his-old-school-AT-sheffield-tapton-secondary-school/

https://web.archive.org/web/20090412105803/http://www.made-in-sheffield.com/People/sebastianCoe.htm

https://www.teamgb.com/article/seb-coe-versus-steve-ovett-re-visiting-moscow-1980/5Nw7st6GkR1ducwGqpJoFk

https://scottishathletics.org.nz/2019/08/26/rivalry/

https://www.oregonlive.com/history/2016/08/olympics_1500-meter_glory_when.html

https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a20806272/ovett-recalls-fabled-rivalry-with-coe/

...more

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August 28, 1981 - 3rd mile world record in 9 days between Sebastian Coe & Steve Ovett

August 28, 1981 - 3rd mile world record in 9 days between Sebastian Coe & Steve Ovett