David Moorcroft facts for kids
at Coventry walk of fame unveiling 16 May 2008
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 April 1953 Coventry, England |
| Occupation | Former Chief Executive of UK Athletics |
| Height | 180 cm |
| Weight | 66 kg |
| Spouse(s) | Linda |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event(s) | middle-distance |
| Club | Coventry Godiva Harriers |
David Robert Moorcroft is a famous English runner. He was born on April 10, 1953. He was once the world record holder for the 5,000-meter race. David also ran in middle-distance and long-distance events.
After his running career, he became the Chief Executive of UK Athletics. This is the main organization for sports like running, jumping, and throwing in the UK. He was recognized for his services to athletics with special honors in 1983 and 1999. In March 2023, he was also named a Deputy lieutenant for the West Midlands.
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Early Life and Education
David Moorcroft was born in Coventry, Warwickshire, England. His parents were Robert and Mildred Moorcroft. He went to Woodlands Comprehensive School and Tile Hill College.
Later, he studied Physical Education and Sport Science at Loughborough University. In 1997, the university gave him an honorary degree. David has been a member of the Coventry Godiva Harriers athletics club since 1964. He was also the club's president for a time.
Running Career Highlights
David Moorcroft started competing for Great Britain in 1973. His first big event was the Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976. There, he finished seventh in the 1,500-meter final.
He won a gold medal in the 1,500 meters at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. Just four weeks later, he earned a bronze medal at the European Athletics Championships in Prague. In the 1980 Moscow Olympics, he faced stomach problems and did not make it past the 5,000-meter semifinals.
Breaking the World Record
David had an amazing year in 1982. He broke the 5,000-meter world record by almost six seconds! He ran the race in 13 minutes and 0.41 seconds at the Bislett Games in Oslo. This record stood for three years. He was the last non-African runner to set a 5,000-meter world record.
In 1982, he also won a bronze medal in the 5,000 meters at the European Athletics Championships in Athens. That same year, he won another gold medal in the 5,000 meters at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. He also set new European and British records for the 3,000-meter race.
Later Competitions
David competed in his third and final Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984. However, he had a groin injury and finished 14th in the 5,000 meters. He continued to run for Britain internationally until the late 1980s.
After retiring from top-level racing, he kept running. In 1993, he ran a mile in 4 minutes and 2.53 seconds in Belfast. This was a world record for runners aged 40 and over at that time.
Broadcasting and Charity Work
From 1983 to 1997, David Moorcroft worked as a commentator for BBC television and radio. He covered many athletics events. During this time, he also helped develop the Coventry Sports Foundation. He was its Chief Executive from 1981 to 1995 and is still a Trustee.
He has also provided expert commentary for Canadian television networks during several Olympic Games. This included the 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. He also commentated for Channel 4 at the 2011 World Athletics Championships.
David Moorcroft is currently the Chair of the parkrun UK Board. Parkrun organizes free, weekly running events around the world.
Leading UK Athletics
In 1997, David was chosen to be the Chief Executive of the British Athletic Federation. At that time, the organization was having serious money problems. Two weeks later, it went into administration, and a new group called UK Athletics was formed. David stayed on as Chief Executive until January 2007.
Under his leadership, UK Athletics became financially strong again. They did this by getting new sponsors, making deals with TV broadcasters, and receiving public money. When he left, UK Athletics had a turnover of over £18 million each year.
He helped secure a large investment from Norwich Union for athletics. New TV deals brought athletics back to the BBC. Many televised events were held across the UK each year. Major international championships were also hosted in the UK, like the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham in 2003.
New indoor training facilities were built across the UK. Many English running tracks were also improved. This was thanks to a £41 million fund from the government.
During his time, British athletes won five gold medals at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. This was a good improvement from previous years. When he left, he noted that a new group of talented athletes was emerging, looking forward to the London 2012 Olympics.
Personal Life
David Moorcroft married Linda on July 5, 1975. They have two children, Paul and Lucy. They also have four grandchildren.
See also
In Spanish: David Moorcroft para niños
