Full Name: Stephen Michael James Ovett; also known as Steve Ovett
Date of Birth: 9 th October, 1955
Country: the United Kingdom
Sport involved in: Athletics
Achievements made:
Gold medal winner in the 800 meter sprint at the European Junior Championships in 1973
Silver medal winner in the 800 meter event at the 1974 Rome European Championships
Winner of the AAA titles in the 800 meter event in 1974, 1975 and 1976
Gold medalist in the 1500 meter event at the 1978 Prague European Championships
Silver medal winner in the 800 meter sprint at the European Championships in 1978
Winner of the AAA titles in the 1500 meter event in 1979
Gold medalist in the 800 meter event at the 1980 Moscow Summer Games
Bronze medal winner in the 1500 meter event at the 1980 Moscow Olympics
Winner of the AAA titles in the 1 mile event in 1980
Winner of Gold medal in the 5000 meter event at the 1986 Commonwealth Games
Career: Steve Ovett flourished as an excellent athlete, when he was a teenager. He won his first major title in the 1973 European Junior Championships in the 800 meter race. Next year, in the 1974 European Championships at Rome, Ovett won Silver medal in the senior 800 meter event. He won the AAA titles in the 800 meter event in 1974, 1975 and 1976. Ovett was the AAA title winner in the 1500 meter event in 1979 and in the 1 mile event in 1980. Ovett participated at the first Olympics of his career in the 1976 Montreal Summer Games. In the Games, he finished in the fifth place. In the 1978 European Championships, Ovett won one Gold medal in the 1500 meter event and one silver medal in the 800 meter event. In 1980, he set a new world record in the 1 mile event with a timing of 3:48.8 seconds and leveled Sebastian Coe's world record in the 1500 meter event with 3:32.1 seconds. In the 1980 Moscow Summer Games , Ovett won one Gold medal in the 800 meter event and one silver medal in the 1500 meter event. Following his performance in the 1980 Olympics, Ovett improved the world record in the 1500 meter event twice. In 1983, he finished the 1500 meter race in just 3:30.77 seconds setting a new world record. During the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games, he was suffering from bronchitis. As a result, he could not win any Olympic medal in the competition. In the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, Ovett won the 5000 meter event. The great middle distance runner retired from the sport in 1990.
Performance at the Olympics: Steve Ovett had his first appearance at the Olympic track in the 1976 Montreal Summer Games. In the Games, he finished the 800 meter final race in fifth place. Ovett entered the 1980 Moscow Summer Games as a favorite in the 1500 meter event. However he won his first Olympic Gold medal in the 800 meter event defeating his teammate Sebastian Coe. In the 1500 meter event, Ovett won bronze medal. In the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games, Ovett tried to defend his 800 meter Olympic title. During the 1984 Games, he was suffering from severe bronchitis. As a consequence, he could reach the finishing line in the 800 meter final race in the eighth place. In the 1500 meter event, Ovett was running at the fourth position in the last lap of the final. On the track he collapsed and had to be carried away in a stretcher.
