Sebastian Coe

Sebastian Coe - Middle Distance Runner, Career and Childhood

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Sebastian Coe's Personal Details

Sebastian Coe is a British former track and field athlete turned politician

InformationDetail
BirthdaySeptember 29, 1956
NationalityBritish
FamousLoughborough University, Political Leaders, Sportspersons, Athletes, Middle Distance Runner, Politician
SpousesCarole Annett, Nicky McIrvine
Known asSebastian Newbold Coe, Baron Coe, Seb Coe, Lord Coe
ChildrensAlice India Violet Coe, Harry Sebastian Newbold Coe, Madeleine Rose Coe, Peter Henry Christopher Coe
Universities
  • Loughborough University
  • Tapton School
  • Abbeydale Grange School
  • 1979 - Loughborough University
Notable Alumnis
  • Loughborough University
Birth PlaceHammersmith
Political IdeologyConservative
Height175
GenderMale
FatherPeter Coe
MotherTina Angela Lal
Net Worth$50 million as of Aug 19,2015
Sun SignLibra
Born inHammersmith
Famous asMiddle Distance Runner, Politician

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Sebastian Coe's photo

Who is Sebastian Coe?

Sebastian Coe is a British former track and field athlete turned politician. Also referred to as Seb Coe or Lord Coe, he became the proud winner of four Olympic medals, including the 1500 metres gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1980 and 1984 during his career as an athlete. Coe loved running from a young age. As an active and athletic boy, he joined athletics team Hallamshire Harriers at the age of 12 and was initially coached by his father. He soon became a middle-distance specialist and caught the public’s attention in 1977 when he competed in the 800 metres at the European Indoor Championships in San Sebastian. Even though he missed the world indoor record, he was propelled to international recognition after the championship. During his running career, he developed intense rivalries with fellow Britons Steve Ovett and Steve Cram which attracted media attention for much of the 1980s. After retiring from sports, he ventured into politics and became a member of the parliament for the Conservative Party. He also served as a council member of the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF), and was eventually appointed vice president of the IAAF. He headed London’s efforts to bid for the 2012 Olympics and became the chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games after London’s bid was successful.

Childhood & Early Life

Sebastian Coe was born on September 29, 1956 in London, England, as the oldest of four children born to Peter Coe, an engineer, and Angela Coe, an actress. His father was an athletic man and a cyclist, who encouraged Sebastian to play sports from a young age.

He received his primary education from Bridgetown Primary School and Hugh Clopton Secondary School in Stratford-upon-Avon. His family then moved to Sheffield where he attended Tapton Secondary Modern School and Abbeydale Grange School.

He loved running from an early age, and was constantly motivated by his father to pursue his passion. At the age of 12, he joined the athletics team Hallamshire Harriers and became a middle-distance specialist in no time. Even though his father had no coaching experience, he took it upon himself to train his talented son.

Following his graduation from high school, Sebastian Coe studied Economics and Social History at Loughborough University. He was trained by athletics coach George Gandy at the university and represented his university as a runner. Gandy’s training techniques greatly helped to improve Coe’s running.

Career

Sebastian Coe was first catapulted to international fame in March 1977 when he competed in the 800 metres at the European Indoor Championships in San Sebastian. He won the race in 1:46.54, narrowly missing the world indoor record.

Throughout 1977 he displayed great form and clinched his first UK national record outdoors at the 800m at the Coca Cola Games at Crystal Palace, beating Andy Carter.

He continued to perform well over the next few years and set three world records in 41 days in 1979-- in the 800 metres (1:42.33) and the mile (3:48.95) in Oslo, Norway and later broke the world 1500 metres record (3:32.03) in Zurich, Switzerland. He became the first person to hold all three records at the same time. He was voted "athlete of the year" by ‘Athletics Weekly’ and ‘Track and Field News’ at the end of the year.

He, along with his arch rival Ovett, participated in the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow where Coe went on to win the 1500 metres and came in second after Ovett in the 800 metres. Coe covered the last 400 metres of the 1500 metres race in 52.2 and the last 100 m in 12.1 seconds, the fastest ever finish at this distance.

The year 1981 was a very eventful one for him. He set world records in the 800 and 1,000 metres, and beat Ovett’s mile record, running it in 3 minute 48.53 second. Ovett, however, went on to set another mile record, which was again shattered by Coe with a 3 minute 47.33 second run.

Sebastian Coe was selected to compete in the 800 and 1500 metres at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He won the gold once again in the 1500 metres with an Olympic record of 3:32.53, and won the silver in the 800 metres, losing the first spot to Joaquim Cruz of Brazil. He became the first person to win successive Olympic 1500 metres titles, and remains the only one so far.

He suffered an injury in May 1987 which kept him out of action for the entire season. He could not qualify for the British 1988 Olympic Games team. After one final good season in 1989, he retired from competitive athletics in early 1990.

He embarked into a political career after retiring as an athlete and was elected as Member of Parliament for Falmouth and Camborne in 1992, for the Conservative Party, a position he held until he lost his seat in the 1997 general election.

He became a council member of the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) in 2003 and was named the head of London’s bid for the 2012 Olympics the next year. The bid was successful and London was awarded the Games in 2005, following which he became the chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games. After the London Olympics, Coe was appointed as Chairman of the British Olympic Association.

Awards & Achievements

Sebastian Coe was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1982, an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1990, and created a Life Peer as Baron Coe, of Ranmore in the County of Surrey, in 2000.

He is the recipient of several honorary degrees, including an Honorary Doctor of Technology (Hon DTech) by his alma mater, Loughborough University in 1985, and a Doctor of Science (Hon DSc) from the University of East London in 2009.

Coe was appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) for services to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the 2013 New Year Honours.

Personal Life & Legacy

Sebastian Coe married Nicky McIrvine, a former Badminton three-day-event champion, in 1990. The couple had four children before divorcing in 2002.

He started dating Carole Annett in 2003 and married her in 2011.

Net Worth

Sebastian Coe has an estimated net worth of $50 million.

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Sebastian Coe's awards

YearNameAward

Other

0Milliyet Sports Award for World Athlete of the Year - 1980
0National Television Award for Landmark Achievement - 2013
0Laureus World Sports Award for Lifetime Achievement - 2013
0 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award - 1979
0 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award - 2012

Sebastian Coe biography timelines

  • // 29th Sep 1956
    Sebastian Coe was born on September 29, 1956 in London, England, as the oldest of four children born to Peter Coe, an engineer, and Angela Coe, an actress. His father was an athletic man and a cyclist, who encouraged Sebastian to play sports from a young age.
  • // 1977
    Throughout 1977 he displayed great form and clinched his first UK national record outdoors at the 800m at the Coca Cola Games at Crystal Palace, beating Andy Carter.
  • // Mar 1977
    Sebastian Coe was first catapulted to international fame in March 1977 when he competed in the 800 metres at the European Indoor Championships in San Sebastian. He won the race in 1:46.54, narrowly missing the world indoor record.
  • // 1979
    He continued to perform well over the next few years and set three world records in 41 days in 1979
  • // in the 800 metres (1:42.33) and the mile (3:48.95) in Oslo, Norway and later broke the world 1500 metres record (3:32.03) in Zurich, Switzerland. He became the first person to hold all three records at the same time. He was voted "athlete of the year" by ‘Athletics Weekly’ and ‘Track and Field News’ at the end of the year.
  • // 1980
    He, along with his arch rival Ovett, participated in the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow where Coe went on to win the 1500 metres and came in second after Ovett in the 800 metres. Coe covered the last 400 metres of the 1500 metres race in 52.2 and the last 100 m in 12.1 seconds, the fastest ever finish at this distance.
  • // 1981
    The year 1981 was a very eventful one for him. He set world records in the 800 and 1,000 metres, and beat Ovett’s mile record, running it in 3 minute 48.53 second. Ovett, however, went on to set another mile record, which was again shattered by Coe with a 3 minute 47.33 second run.
  • // 1982 To 1990
    Sebastian Coe was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1982, an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1990, and created a Life Peer as Baron Coe, of Ranmore in the County of Surrey, in 2000.
  • // 1984
    Sebastian Coe was selected to compete in the 800 and 1500 metres at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He won the gold once again in the 1500 metres with an Olympic record of 3:32.53, and won the silver in the 800 metres, losing the first spot to Joaquim Cruz of Brazil. He became the first person to win successive Olympic 1500 metres titles, and remains the only one so far.
  • // 1985 To 2009
    He is the recipient of several honorary degrees, including an Honorary Doctor of Technology (Hon DTech) by his alma mater, Loughborough University in 1985, and a Doctor of Science (Hon DSc) from the University of East London in 2009.
  • // May 1987 To 1988
    He suffered an injury in May 1987 which kept him out of action for the entire season. He could not qualify for the British 1988 Olympic Games team. After one final good season in 1989, he retired from competitive athletics in early 1990.
  • // 1990 To 2002
    Sebastian Coe married Nicky McIrvine, a former Badminton three-day-event champion, in 1990. The couple had four children before divorcing in 2002.
  • // 1992 To 1997
    He embarked into a political career after retiring as an athlete and was elected as Member of Parliament for Falmouth and Camborne in 1992, for the Conservative Party, a position he held until he lost his seat in the 1997 general election.
  • // 2003 To 2005
    He became a council member of the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) in 2003 and was named the head of London’s bid for the 2012 Olympics the next year. The bid was successful and London was awarded the Games in 2005, following which he became the chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games. After the London Olympics, Coe was appointed as Chairman of the British Olympic Association.
  • // 2003 To 2011
    He started dating Carole Annett in 2003 and married her in 2011.
  • // 2012 To 2013
    Coe was appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) for services to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the 2013 New Year Honours.

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Sebastian Coe's FAQ

  • What is Sebastian Coe birthday?

    Sebastian Coe was born at 1956-09-29

  • Where is Sebastian Coe's birth place?

    Sebastian Coe was born in Hammersmith

  • What is Sebastian Coe nationalities?

    Sebastian Coe's nationalities is British

  • Who is Sebastian Coe spouses?

    Sebastian Coe's spouses is Carole Annett, Nicky McIrvine

  • Who is Sebastian Coe childrens?

    Sebastian Coe's childrens is Alice India Violet Coe, Harry Sebastian Newbold Coe, Madeleine Rose Coe, Peter Henry Christopher Coe

  • What was Sebastian Coe universities?

    Sebastian Coe studied at Loughborough University, Tapton School, Abbeydale Grange School, 1979 - Loughborough University

  • What was Sebastian Coe notable alumnis?

    Sebastian Coe's notable alumnis is Loughborough University

  • What is Sebastian Coe's political ideology?

    Sebastian Coe's political ideology is Conservative

  • How tall is Sebastian Coe?

    Sebastian Coe's height is 175

  • Who is Sebastian Coe's father?

    Sebastian Coe's father is Peter Coe

  • Who is Sebastian Coe's mother?

    Sebastian Coe's mother is Tina Angela Lal

  • What is Sebastian Coe's sun sign?

    Sebastian Coe is Libra

  • How famous is Sebastian Coe?

    Sebastian Coe is famouse as Middle Distance Runner, Politician