Steve Cram

From Free net encyclopedia

Template:MedalTop Template:MedalSport Template:MedalSilver Template:MedalBottom Image:Steve cram.jpg Steve Cram (born October 14 1960) was a British athlete during the country's domination of middle distance running in the 1980s. He was the first man to run under 3 minutes and 30 seconds for the metric mile.

He competed as a teenager at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games in the 1500 m, in which fellow British athletes Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett vied for the gold medal. Cram finished far down the field but healthier for the experience.

Cram was European and Commonwealth Games champion at 1500 m in 1982 and World Champion in 1983. He was world mile record holder between 1985 and 1993; his mark, 3:46.32, still stands today as a European record. He was often involved in titanic races with Said Aouita.

An Olympic Games gold medal eluded him, although he did win silver in the 1500 m behind defending champion Coe in the 1984 Los Angeles games when not completely fit.

Arguably his greatest year was in 1985 when he was virtually invincible. He beat the reigning 800 m Olympic Champion, Joaquim Cruz, over the 800 m in 1:42.88, broke three world records (1500m, Mile, 2000m) and recorded a British All Commers Record over the 1000 m, running 2:12.88. He was the first man to run under 3:30.00 for the 1500 m, just beating Said Aouita in Nice (running 3:29.67 to Aouita's 3:29.71).

Cram's good form continued into the 1986 season in which he won both the 800 m and 1500 m at the Commonwealth Games (his winning 800 m time - 1:43:22 - is still the games' record). Later in the season he won the bronze in the European Championships over 800 m behind Seb Coe and Tom McKean while beating Coe to the gold medal over the 1500 m.

He was favourite to win the gold medal over 1500 m at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 but a calf injury just before the games in a 1000 m race meant that he was only able to finish fourth in a close race. Injury dogged him throughout his remaining years although he made the semi final over the 1500 m at the 1993 World Championships. He retired from athletics in 1994.

Cram now works as a television presenter and athletics commentator predominantly for the BBC and as a motivational speaker. He was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1983.

Template:Start box Template:Succession box Template:End boxde:Steve Cram no:Steve Cram fi:Steve Cram sv:Steve Cram