1,500 metres, Men

By 1984 the British pair of Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe had been joined by a third outstanding Briton, Steve Cram. Though he did not quite have the record times of that pair, he was quite good at winning major titles. In 1982 he was the Commonwealth and European Champion at 1,500 and in 1983, he won the inaugural World Championship in the 1,500 metres. The three British favorites were joined in Los Angeles by the top US miler since Jim Ryun, Steve Scott. Scott finished second to Cram at the World Athletics Championship, but led the 1983 world mile list with 3:49.21, set at the ISTAF Meet in Berlin on 17 August. The only significant miler who would not be in Los Angeles was South African Johan Fourie, third on the world-list for the year, but who could not compete because South Africa was still banned from international sports.

Though the Soviet Union led an Eastern European boycott of Los Angeles, in retribution for the 1980 American-led boycott, that hardly affected the 1,500 because the big British three and Scott were all available. All four made it thru the two rounds and presented for the final. Coe had earlier won the 800 metre gold medal, while Ovett was felt to be struggling with asthma problems. Scott and Cram qualified comfortably. After a first lap in 58.85, Scott moved to the front on the backstretch, trying to push the pace and take kick out of the Britons. He led thru 800 in 1:57.06, but then was passed by Spain’s José Manuel Abascal, who led at the bell. Coe and Cram were on his shoulder. Coe took control on the backstretch and powered ahead to victory. He ran the last 200 in a stunning 26.1, holding off Cram (silver) and Abascal (bronze). His time of 3:32.53 finally bettered Kip Keino’s Olympic record from 1968. Ovett could not finish the race because of his respiratory problems.