Sebastian Coe: 1980 Olympic 1500m

Click HERE to watch the video of the race

The scene was set for one of the most famous confrontations ever, between Ovett and Coe in the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, where each won the other's speciality; Ovett the 800 metres, and Coe the 1500 metres (Coe came in second in the 800 after running what he described as "the worst tactical race of my life", while Ovett took third in the 1500).

It was Ovett's first defeat at either one mile or 1500 metres in three years and 45 races, and Coe covered the last 400 m in 52.2 and the last 100 m in an exceptional 12.1 seconds, the fastest ever last 100 m in any Championship race at this distance. The image of Coe crossing the finish line arms outstretched, eyes rolling and mouth agape is iconic.

Sebastian Coe (GBR)

3:38.40

Jurgen Straub (GDR)

3:38.80

Steve Ovett (GBR)

3:38.99

Fermin Cacho: 1992 Olympic 1500m

Click HERE to watch the video of the race.

Fermin Cacho's first notable result came in 1990, when he finished second in the 1500 m at the European Indoor Championship in Glasgow. At the 1991 Wold Indoor Championships In Seville, Cacho finished again second in the 1500 m, behind Noureddine Morcelli.

At the Olympic Games in Barcelona , Cacho was not considered a serious gold medal threat. But the Olympic 1500 m final was run at a very pedestrian pace, and Cacho positioned himself perfectly in the final lap, and outsprinted his rivals to win the gold medal in 3:40.12.

Fermin Cacho Ruiz (ESP)

3:40.12

Rachid El Basir (MAR)

3:40.62

Mohammed Suleiman (QAT)

3:40.69

Peter Rono: 1988 Olympics 1500m

Click HERE to watch the video of the race.

In 1988 at the Olympic Games in Seoul, Peter Rono managed to beat closely the main favourites Peter Elliott and Steve Cram of Great Britain, thus becoming the youngest Olympic Champion at 1500m(21 years and 62 days).

Rono never won a major race again.

Peter Rono (KEN)

3:35.96

Peter Elliott (GBR)

3:36.15

Jens-Peter Herold (GDR)

3:36.2

Sebastian Coe: 1984 Olympics 1500m

Click HERE to watch the video of the race.

After recovering from toxoplasmosis, and not having run at all from July 1983 until January 1984, Coe returned to competition in the Spring of 1984 and showed encouraging form early in the season. He was selected for both 800 and 1500 metres at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, despite being narrowly beaten by Peter Elliott in the AAA Championships. For his fourth major international championships in succession, however, he failed to win his favourite 800 metre event, taking silver behind Joaquim Cruz of Brazil.

However, just as in 1980, he recovered to win gold in the 1500 metres, this time in a new Olympic record of 3:32.53, beating 1983 World 1500 m champion Steve Cram into second place by seven metres. His last 800 m was run in 1:49.8, his last lap 53.2 and his last 100 m in 12.7. This was unrivaled finishing speed at the time in such a fast paced race, all the more remarkable as it was his 7th race in 9 days in hot and humid conditions. He remains the only person to win back to back Olympic 1500 metre titles. Following the race Cram made the often repeated quote "On the day there was only one man and on the day Seb Coe was that man".

Sebastian Coe (GBR)

3:32.53 OR

Steve Cram (GBR)

3:33.40

Jose Manuel Abascal (ESP)

3:34.3

Steve Cram: 1983 World Championships 1500m

Click HERE to watch the video of the race

Injury had disrupted Cram in the early part of the 1983 season, but he recovered in time for the 1983 World Championships in Helsinki and just prior to the games beat Coe (who was suffering from an undiagnosed virus at the time) in an 800 metres at Gateshead. In a slow final, he strategically beat a large field following Said Aouita's break with 500 metres to go.

Ovett became trapped in the pack, ultimately finishing fourth, while Cram outkicked Steve Scott and Aouita in the last 200 metres. In a remark made in Cram's presence shortly afterwards which spoke to the depth of British milers, Ovett noted that Britain was the home of the Olympic champion, World champion and World Record holder in the 1500 metres - titles held by Coe, Cram and Ovett respectively.

Steve Cram

3:41.59

Steve Scott

3:41.87

Said Aouita

3:42.02