Coe who studied economics and social history at Loughborough University, began his running career at the tender age of twelve, after joining Sheffield’s Hallamshire Harriers, and it was here, between studies, a teenage Coe trained and began to win county and school championships.

His father Peter, took an active role in shaping his sons career. As Sebastian’s coach, Peter cleverly built on his son’s potential, guiding him along the torturous road to sporting success.

It paid off, with Coe winning his first race in 1977, during an eight hundred metre event, at the European Indoor Championships, in the aptly named, San Sebastian, setting the pace for the rest of his career.

Now, as Chairman of the 2012 organising committee, Lord Coe is once again the man at the centre of the world’s greatest sporting event. In an exclusive interview for EYE, our reporter James Davies met up with the highly celebrated athlete, at a secret location in London. As the press began to tuck into the vast array of biscuits, and cakes on offer, as part of the mini buffet put on for the launch of John Keddie’s book, Running the Race, Lord Sebastian Coe took his opportunity to swiftly slip into the press conference before the hoards of reporters, who had gathered, had time to notice his arrival.

Dressed in a smart blue suit, with his hair neatly arranged, there was a certain film star quality about the two time Olympic gold medallist. It’s not just the way he presents himself that projects this image, but the way he assertively holds his lean 5’9” frame too. On entering the room he quietly made his way to the front, scanning the several rows of seats, as he anxiously looked for somewhere to sit.

After spotting his designated place, he hurriedly sat down, picked up a copy of the book he was promoting, from the pile that he and the author were to sign later, and began to read the foreword he had written. The buffet had proved a fine and welcome distraction for Coe, who for some reason seemed to want to keep a low profile, enabling him to sit alone.

Although this was the first time I had been in Lord Coe’s presence, it was immediately clear what type of man this celebrated Olympian was. Despite his willingness to keep himself to himself, there was a certain air of authority and unquestionable confidence that only the most successful athletes possess.

After introducing myself, Lord Coe rather charmingly moved his belongings, that were stacked up on the seat next to him, and invited me to sit down. Before I could begin the interview though, Lord Coe, or Seb as he wished to be called, insisted on getting us both a cup of tea.

As he went to fetch the drinks I wondered where I should start the interview. Not only has he had a fascinating career, but he has had an enthralling life too. Back in his running days he was one of athletics’ greatest middle distance runners. Not only has he won two Olympic gold’s, but in 1979 he was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year after breaking three world records, in just forty-one days.

"I have always had a healthy disrespect for being told things aren’t possible.”

With an engaging enthusiasm, he said, “I trained and raced for twelve years before I made an Olympic Games, so for me winning an Olympic gold was the culmination of hundreds of thousands of miles of running, weight sessions and coaching paying off. But I suppose the first thing you feel finishing an event with a great result is relief, because you don’t feel you’ve let down all the people who’ve been helping you along the way. You’re also glad it’s over for the moment, although you soon get back into the mindset of wanting to be a better runner next time round.”

Lord Coe has always been a winner, and he quite happily admits the reason he became so successful was because he has always been bloody minded. “There is”, he says, “a belligerent streak in me. I have always had a healthy disrespect for being told things aren’t possible.”

An attitude that is hardly surprising given that, as a boy, he was told he would never be fast enough to become an eight-hundred metre runner. But it is not just on the track that Lord Coe has excelled. In 1992 he became a Conservative MP, working alongside, former Tory leader, William Hague, and now holds the prestigious position of Chairman of the 2012 organising committee, where arguably he won his greatest ever race, by bringing the Olympic games to London.

The London bid was initially way off the pace and when the five candidate cities were shortlisted, London was rated third behind Madrid and the favourites Paris. But with the timing that he showed so often in his illustrious running career, Coe helped London produce the late charge that was required to pip their French rivals, who had been firm favourites throughout the campaign. His combination of world record-holding pedigree, political experience, and his general affability played an undeniable part in the bid’s success, giving it an air of authority that was hard to ignore. It seemed somewhat fitting that he played such a pivotal role in persuading the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to award London the 2012 Games, as he has such a wonderful history with them. “The Olympics are the greatest sporting event there is” he said with a smile.

Eliciting each question with a short speech, he continued, “They transcend sport. There is no other non political gathering that brings people together in such profusion and with such a wonderful vision. It’s not the panacea for all human ills, but it sure goes a long way to driving all sorts of values. Just look at the values of both the Olympics and Paralympics. The values of respect, friendship, courage, determination and sheer will to overcome adversity. This is something only sport can manage.”

Despite Beijing’s meteoric success Lord Coe, who once ran an astonishing seventeen miles one Christmas morning, assures me he is not suffering sleepless nights over the awesome responsibility of having the world’s eyes on the English capital.
Speaking with the single mindedness he talked about, Seb said, through gritted teeth, “I’ve broken thirteen world records in my time. I don’t intend to break a fourteenth and be the first organiser of an Olympics to bring them in late.

Of course we will have a fantastic Games. We have a wonderful propensity in this country to doubt our ability. We have fantastic examples of excellence at every level, whether it’s in the arts, sciences, in the quality of our policing or armed services. And yet we sometimes enter a tunnel of despair about it, which few other countries actually do.”

After Britain’s Olympic success in Beijing, the newspaper headlines were inevitable. ‘It’s great to be British!’; ‘Britannia rules the Games!’. And who can blame them? It was, after all, a terrific summer full of success for Team G.B, with Great Britain firmly sat in fourth place in the medals table.

So can we repeat this tremendous feat again, in front of our own nation on home soil? “Of course we can”, Lord Coe proudly boasts. “We’ve got a very good funding programme at elite level now with more money going into elite level sport than ever before. Although money is important it’s not the sole part of the story. You need athletes with hunger and commitment, as well as world class coaching and great administration to win gold medals. Excellence costs.”

Despite his obvious confidence about success both in the medals table and in the running of the 2012 games, Lord Coe certainly has a lot of work to do over the next two years as Chairman of the organizing committee. However considering the achievements of his career to date, he seems like the perfect man for the job.

James Davies
Web: www.jamesdaviesmedia.co.uk

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Interview: Seb Coe

12 May 2010

Lord Sebastian Coe will forever be remembered as one of the finest athletes to represent Great Britain, after winning four Olympic medals and setting an astounding eight world records, in middle-distance running.

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