Steve Cram carriers the Olympic Torch for the 2008 Summer Olympics down Whitehall in London surrounded by Police and Olympic officials on April 6, 2008. The Olympic Flame or Olympic Torch is a Symbol of the Olympic Games. Whitehall is a road in Westminster in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards traditional London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom.

Medal record
Men’s Athletics
Competitor for  United Kingdom
Olympic Games
Silver	1984 Los Angeles	1500 m
World Championships
Gold	1983 Helsinki	1500 m
European Championships
Gold	1982 Athens	1500 m
Gold	1986 Stuttgart	1500 m
Bronze	1986 Stuttgart	800 m
Commonwealth Games
Gold	1982 Brisbane	1500 m
Gold	1986 Edinburgh	1500 m
Gold	1986 Edinburgh	800 m

Steve Cram MBE (born October 14, 1960) is a retired English athlete. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, 41 events in athletics were contested 24 events by men and 17 by women The World Championships in Athletics is an event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF The inaugural World Championships in Athletics were run under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations and were held at the The 13th European Championships in Athletics were held from September 6 to September 12, 1982 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens The 14th European Championships in Athletics were held from August 29 to September 3, 1986 at the Neckarstadion in Stuttgart The 14th European Championships in Athletics were held from August 29 to September 3, 1986 at the Neckarstadion in Stuttgart These are the official results of the Men's 800 metres event at the 1986 European Championships in Stuttgart, West Germany. The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 30 September&mdash9 October 1982 The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill seven miles from Hastings, the forces Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Along with fellow Englishmen Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett, he was one of the world's dominant middle distance runners during the 1980s. Sebastian Newbold Coe Baron Coe, KBE (born 29 September 1956, and often nicknamed Seb Coe) is a British former top-level Stephen ("Steve" Michael James Ovett OBE (born October 9, 1955) is a former Middle distance track events are track races longer than sprints up to (and arguably including 3000 Metres. Nicknamed "The Jarrow Arrow", Cram set world records in the 1500 metres, 2000 metres and the mile during a 19-day period in the summer of 1985. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States He was the first man to run 1500 metres under 3 minutes and 30 seconds. He won the 1500 metres gold medal at the 1983 World Championships, and the 1500 metres silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games. The inaugural World Championships in Athletics were run under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations and were held at the The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event held in Los Angeles,

He has recently been appointed chancellor of the University of Sunderland, replacing Lord Putnam who retired last year. The University of Sunderland is located in Sunderland, North East England.

Career

In 1980, Cram won his place in the British Olympic team after finishing in 2nd place to Ovett in the mile at Crystal Palace. The race had been marked as a run-off between Cram and Scottish miler Graham Williamson for the final place (a selection decision which was severely criticized by Ovett in his 1984 autobiography). Cram, aged 19, reached the final of the 1500 meter at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, in which Coe and Steve Ovett, 4 or 5 years older, famously vied for the gold medal. The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event held in Moscow in the Soviet Cram finished well down the field but healthier for the experience.

Capitalizing on his Olympic experience, Cram made his major breakthrough in 1982, a year in which Coe and Ovett were largely absent with injuries. Cram took 1500 meter gold at the Commonwealth Games and also the 1982 European Championships in Athens, where he raced to gold after breaking from the field with 600 meters to go following Williamson's fall. The Commonwealth Games is a multinational Multi-sport event. Held every four years it involves the elite athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations. The 13th European Championships in Athletics were held from September 6 to September 12, 1982 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens

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. The inaugural World Championships in Athletics were run under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations and were held at the In a slow final, he strategically beat a large field following Said Aouita's break with 500 meters to go. Saïd Aouita ( Arabic: سعيد عويطة (born November 2, 1959) is a former Moroccan athlete, winner of 5000 meters Ovett became trapped in the pack, ultimately finishing fourth, while Cram outkicked Steve Scott and Aouita in the last 200 meter. Steve Scott (born May 5, 1956) is an American male athlete who is one of the greatest milers in American history 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 metre - titles held by Coe, Cram and Ovett respectively.

At Crystal Palace later that summer, Cram won an epic mile race, in which he led Ovett by little more than a metre with 300 meter to go and maintained that lead right to the finishing line. In a 2006 interview, Cram described the race: "It was a cat-and-mouse affair - we both started off running at the back of the field. I beat him by little more than the thickness of a vest. " (Quoted in "Face to face: Steve Cram", by John Gibson, May 2, 2006, The Evening Chronicle, [1] ). Events 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

In 1984, Cram's season was severely hampered by injury, although he recovered sufficiently to win silver in the 1500 metres at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, behind defending champion Coe. The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West

He came back stronger in 1985, a year in which he was virtually invincible. In the 800 metres, not his best event, he beat the reigning 800 metre Olympic Champion, Joaquim Cruz, in 1:42. Joaquim Carvalho Cruz (born March 12, 1963) is a former Brazilian athlete, winner of the 800 m at the 1984 Summer Olympics. 88. He broke three world records (1500 metres, Mile, 2000 metres) within a 19 day span, and recorded a British All Comers Record over the 1000 meter, running 2:12. 88 in very windy conditions at Gateshead (the second fastest 1000 m in history at the time behind Coe's 2:12. 18). He was the first man to run under 3:30. 00 for the 1500 metres, just beating Said Aouita in Nice (running 3:29. Saïd Aouita ( Arabic: سعيد عويطة (born November 2, 1959) is a former Moroccan athlete, winner of 5000 meters 67 to Aouita's 3:29. 71). His mile time of 3:46. 32, recorded at the Bislett Stadium in Oslo, stood for eight years and is still the European record. This is a list of European records in athletics. Outdoor Men Women Indoor Men Women This run was notable for the fact that this was an actual competitive race against Sebastian Coe and saw significant variations in pace, lap-to-lap, rather than a typical even-paced, pace-maker led time-trial. It has been speculated that if Cram had run that race with even pacing, he would have recorded a time around 3:45. 00 - 3:45. 50 (equivalent to 3:28. 33 - 3:28. 80 for 1500 m using accepted conversion factor of 1. 08 )

While the likes of Coe & Ovett had a devastating sprint finish over the last 100 meters, Cram tended to wind up the speed gradually over the last 300 meters of races, making him very difficult to catch. However, during the 1985 season he said (and indeed demonstrated) that he could win from any position and happily ran near the back of world class fields before unleashing his kick, often with a lap or so to go. This tactic, his elegant, high stepping action and his effortless acceleration made him one of the most exciting middle distance runners to watch.

Cram's good form continued into the 1986 season. At the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, he eclipsed a world class 800 m field, finishing 15 metres clear of Tom McKean and Peter Elliott in 1:43:22 - still the games record. The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time Tom McKean (b October 27 1963, Bellshill, North Lanarkshire) is a former Scottish Middle distance runner who won the For the Canadian Anglican priest see Peter Elliott. For the football coach see Pete Elliott. He followed this up with gold in the 1500 metres and was persuaded to run both events at the 1986 European Championships in Stuttgart. The 14th European Championships in Athletics were held from August 29 to September 3, 1986 at the Neckarstadion in Stuttgart He won the bronze in the 800 m behind Coe and McKean, and later beat Coe to win the gold medal over the 1500 metres. It turned out to be not only Cram's last major medal, but the end of the golden era for British middle distance running.

In 1987, he was no longer the outstanding 1500 m athlete that he'd been in previous years. Having previously been able to win races from any position and at any pace, he was now lacking the finishing speed of some of his main rivals. He was beaten by José Luis González in the European Cup and although he made the final of the 1987 World Championships in Rome, he finished last. José Luis González Sánchez (born 1957-12-08 in Villanueva de la Sagra, Toledo) was one of the world's fastest 1500 metres runners of the 1980s The European Cup (formally known as the Bruno Zauli Cup first took place in Stuttgart (men and Kassel (women Germany in 1965. The 2nd World Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations were held in the Olympic Stadium in He'd said even before the race that his only hope of victory was a fast race, in which he could run the finish out of his opponents, in particular Abdi Bile, the eventual winner. Abdi Bile ( Cabdi Bille Cabdi, born December 28, 1962, in Las Anod) is a former middle distance runner from Somalia Unhappily for Cram, the pace was slow and he faded badly in the last 200 meters.

His 1988 season saw him return to better form and he beat Bile in the Oslo Dream Mile in 1988. Having run impressively in the Olympic trials over 800 m and winning in 1. 44. 16, (opening up an 8 meter gap over Tom McKean in a sprint down the home straight) he was touted as one of the favorites to win the gold medal over 1500 m at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 until a calf injury just before the games in a 1000 meter race hampered his progress. The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event staged in 1988 in

The injury affected his performance at the games and he was eliminated in the heats of the 800m. He recovered sufficiently to reach the final of the 1500m, but could only finish fourth in a close race in which was unable produce his usual finish and could not catch the surprise winner Peter Rono or runner-up Peter Elliot whom he had beaten on a number of occasions prior to the Olympics. Peter Kipchumba Rono (born July 31, 1967) is a former Kenyan athlete, who won the 1500 Metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics This article is about the Canadian Anglican priest For the athlete see Peter Elliott (athlete. Injury dogged him throughout his remaining years and although he continued to compete for some time, he never again looked likely to win a major championship. 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. A presenter, or host (sometimes hostess, in feminine form is a Person or Organization responsible for running an event He starred alongside UK Olympic Gold medalists Sally Gunnell and Adam Eason in BBC's 2006 primetime TV series ‘Run for Glory’ helping the runners and participants overcome psychological barriers to running the London marathon. Sally Jane Janet Gunnell OBE (born 29 July 1966 in Chigwell, Essex, England) is a former British He has two children, Marcus and Josie. He was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1983 and was awarded the MBE in 1986. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. He remains the UK record holder over the mile and 1,500 m.

Personal bests

Records
Preceded by Steve Ovett	Men's 1,500 m World Record Holder July 16, 1985 – August 23, 1985	Succeeded by Saïd Aouita
Preceded by Sebastian Coe	Men's Mile World Record Holder July 27, 1985 – September 5, 1993	Succeeded by Noureddine Morceli
Awards
Preceded by Daley Thompson	BBC Sports Personality of the Year 1983	Succeeded by Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean
Preceded by Carl Lewis	United Press International Athlete of the Year 1985	Succeeded by Diego Maradona
Sporting positions
Preceded by Sebastian Coe	Men's 800 m Best Year Performance 1982 – 1983	Succeeded by Joaquim Cruz
Preceded by Joaquim Cruz	Men's 800 m Best Year Performance 1986	Succeeded by Billy Konchellah
Preceded by Saïd Aouita	Men's 1,500 m Best Year Performance 1988	Succeeded by Abdi Bile

External links

• Steve Cram biography