Sebastian Coe Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Sebastian Coe is a British Olympic runner.  Through his work in politics, Sebastian Coe helped bring the 2012 Summer Olympics to London.

Childhood And Early Life

Sebastian Coe was born on September 29. 1956 in Hammersmith, England.   His father Peter Coe was also a runner and was later his coach.  When Sebastian Coe was 12, he joined the Hallamshire Harriers athletics team.  

Education

Sebastian Coe attended Loughborough University.  During the time Sebastian Coe was studying Economics and Social History, Sebastian Coe was also a member of the running team.  He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1980.

Rise To Stardom

Sebastian Coe caught the attention of the sports world in the area of middle distance running.  In 1977, Sebastian Coe won gold in the 800-meter race at the European Indoor Championships in San Sebastian. While

Sebastian Coe made the championship record; he just missed the world indoor record time.

Career

From 1977 to the Summer Olympics in 1980, Sebastian Coe was winning races and breaking records in both indoor and outdoor races.  Not only did he hold the record in his native United Kingdom, but also the world record in the middle distance races. 

Sebastian Coe won the bronze metal in the 800 meter at the 1978 European Athletics Championships in Prague.  In 1979, Sebastian Coe set three world records in a span of 41 days. Sebastian Coe set the record for the 800 meter in Oslo, the mile in Zurich, and the 1500 meter also in Zurich. 

Through his success, Sebastian Coe was voted the athlete of the year by both Athletics Weekly and Track and Field News.  Sebastian Coe was easily ranked number one in the world and the only athlete to accomplish such achievement in the same year.  At the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Sebastian Coe won gold in the 1500 meter race and silver in the 800-meter race.

Sebastian Coe continued to race to new records and awards.  He also had to deal with setbacks and injuries.  In 1982, Sebastian Coe won silver in the 800-meter race at the European Athletics Championship in Athens and kept his rank as number one in the world. 

However, Sebastian Coe was not able to race during June and July of that year because of injury.  After the Athens race, he could not participate in the 1500 meter race because of a diagnosis of glandular fever.  Sebastian Coe also missed most of the 1983 race season because of health concerns including hospitalization from toxoplasmosis. 

However, Sebastian Coe was ready to race in the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.  Once again Sebastian Coe won silver in the 800 meter and gold in the 1500 meter. Sebastian Coe is the only runner who has won back-to-back Olympic gold in the 1500 meter.

Illness and injury continued to plague Coe's racing career.  While Sebastian Coe won his first gold at the 1986 European Athletics Championship in Stuttgart for the 800 meter and silver for the 1500 meter, they would be the only international championship awards. 

Sebastian Coe was dealing with back issues, infections, and other programs.  Sebastian Coe did not qualify for the British Olympic team in 1988.  In 1989, Sebastian Coe was able to return as British Number 1 at the age of 33.  Sebastian Coe retired in 1990.

In 1992, Sebastian Coe was elected as a conservative in the British Parliament.  However,r Sebastian Coe lost reelection in 1997.  Later Sebastian Coe was chief of staff for William Hague and accepted Life Peerage in 2000.  Coe took leave of absence from the House of Lords since the fall of 2016.

In 2004, Sebastian Coe became the chair of the Olympic committee who announced the bid to have the games held in London in 2012.  Through his efforts, the city won the bid that year.  After those Olympic Games, he was appointed the Chairman of the British Olympic Association. 

Sebastian Coe has also put his sports expertise to use in sports administration.  Sebastian Coe was the first chairman of the FIFA Ethics Committee in 2006.  In 2007, Sebastian Coe was made vice president of the International Association of Athletics Federations.  In 2013, Sebastian Coe succeeded to the role as president.  Sebastian Coe is also a member of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Coordination Commission.

Personal Life And Legacy

Sebastian Coe married Nicky McIrvine in 1990.  The couple had four children.  They divorced in 2002.  Sebastian Coe then married Carole Annett in 2011.

Sebastian Coe will be recognized for his success in races and his efforts toward sports in London as well as the world.  

Diseases/Disabilities

Sebastian Coe is colorblind. He also suffers from back problems.  

Awards And Achievements  

•    BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, 1979
•    Milliyet Sports Award for World Athlete of the Year, 1980
•    1980 Olympic Games
•    Member of the Order of the British Empire, 1982
•    1984 Olympic Games
•    Officer of the Order of the British Empire, 1990
•    Created a Life Peer as Baron Coe, 2000
•    Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, 2006
•    BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award, 2012
•    Order of the Companions of Honour, 2012
•    Laureus World Sports Award for Lifetime Achievement, 2013
•    National Television Award for Landmark Achievement, 2013
•    Listed as one of the “100 Makers of the 21st Century” by The Sunday Times

Controversies

In 2016, Sebastian Coe was accused of winning his reelection to the presidency of the International Association of Athletics Federations by obtaining support from a former consultant in the middling of a doping scandal.  Sebastian Coe denies any allegations.

Summary Of Major Works

•    Two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time Olympic silver medalist, and eleven-time world record holder
•    Member of Parliament, 1992 to 1997
•    Chairperson of the 2012 Summer Olympic bid committee for London