Sebastian Coe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Lord Coe CH KBE
Coe during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in 2012
President of World Athletics
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 August 2015
Preceded by	Lamine Diack
Chairman of the British Olympic Association
In office 7 November 2012 – 24 November 2016
President	The Princess Royal
Preceded by	The Lord Moynihan
Succeeded by	Sir Hugh Robertson
Chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
In office 24 August 2008 – 12 August 2012
IOC President	Jacques Rogge
Preceded by	Liu Qi
Succeeded by	Carlos Arthur Nuzman
Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
In office 7 October 2005 – 30 May 2013 Chair of the London bid: 18 May 2004 – 7 October 2005
Preceded by	Barbara Cassani
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Opposition
In office 19 June 1997 – 13 September 2001
Leader	William Hague
Preceded by	Jonathan Powell
Succeeded by	Jenny Ungless
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
as a life peer 16 May 2000 – 31 January 2022
Member of Parliament for Falmouth and Camborne
In office 9 April 1992 – 8 April 1997
Preceded by	David Mudd
Succeeded by	Candy Atherton
Personal details
Born	Sebastian Newbold Coe (1956-09-29) 29 September 1956 (age 68) Hammersmith, London, England
Political party	Conservative
Spouses	Nicky McIrvine ​ ​ (m. 1990; div. 2002)​ Carole Annett ​ (m. 2011)​
Children	4
Parent	Peter Coe (father)
Alma mater	Loughborough University
Sebastian Coe Personal information Height 5 ft 9 in Weight 119 lb Sport Sport Athletics/Track, Mid-distance running Event(s) 800 metres, 1500 metres, Mile Team Hallamshire Harriers, Sheffield Haringey AC, London Achievements and titles Personal best(s) 400 m: 46.87 (London 1979) 800 m: 1:41.73 NR (Florence 1981) 1000 m: 2:12.18 AR (Oslo 1981) 1500 m: 3:29.77 (Rieti 1986) Mile: 3:47.33 (Brussels 1981) 2000 m: 4:58.84 (Bordeaux 1982) 3000 m: 7:54.33 (Cosford 1987) Medal record Men's athletics Representing  Great Britain Olympic Games Gold 1980 Moscow 1500 m Gold 1984 Los Angeles 1500 m Silver 1980 Moscow 800 m Silver 1984 Los Angeles 800 m European Athletics Championships Gold 1986 Stuttgart 800 m Silver 1982 Athens 800 m Silver 1986 Stuttgart 1500 m Bronze 1978 Prague 800 m Representing  Europe World Cup Gold 1981 Rome 800 m Silver 1989 Barcelona 1500 m

Sebastian Newbold Coe, often called Seb Coe, was born on 29 September 1956. He is a famous British sports leader, a former politician, and a retired track and field athlete.

As a middle-distance runner, Coe won four Olympic medals. These include two gold medals in the 1500 metres at the Olympic Games in 1980 and 1984. He set many world records in running. In 1979, he set three world records in just 41 days! His 800 metres world record from 1981 lasted until 1997.

After his running career, Coe became a politician. He was a member of parliament from 1992 to 1997. Later, he became a Life Peer in 2000, which means he joined the House of Lords.

Coe led the successful bid for London to host the 2012 Summer Olympics. He then became the chairman of the committee that organized the games. In 2015, he was elected president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), now called World Athletics.

Early Life and Education

Sebastian Coe was born in Hammersmith, London, on 29 September 1956. His father, Peter Coe, was an athletics coach. His mother, Tina Angela Lal, had some Indian family background.

When he was very young, Coe's family moved to Warwickshire. He went to primary and secondary schools there. Later, they moved to Sheffield. At age 12, he joined the Hallamshire Harriers running club. He became very good at middle-distance running. His geography teacher, David Jackson, who was a cross-country runner, inspired him. Coe's father coached him.

Coe studied Economics and Social History at Loughborough University. He won his first big race in 1977. This was an 800 metres event at the European indoor championships in Spain. At Loughborough, he met coach George Gandy. Gandy helped Coe improve his running with new exercises.

Athletics Career Highlights

Sebastian Coe (#254) won a silver medal in the men's 800m at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.

Coe first became well-known in 1977. He won the 800m at the European Indoor Championships. He almost broke the world indoor record. In September 1977, he set his first UK national outdoor record for the 800m.

In 1978, Coe continued to improve. He set another UK national record for the 800m in Brussels. He first raced against his rival, Steve Ovett, in a cross-country race in 1972. Their first major race together was at the European Championships in Prague in 1978. Ovett finished second and Coe third.

Setting World Records

In 1979, Coe had an amazing year. He set three world records in just 41 days! He broke the 800m and mile records in Oslo, Norway. Then, he broke the 1500m record in Zurich, Switzerland. He was the first person to hold all three records at the same time. He was named Athlete of the Year by top sports magazines.

In 1980, Coe broke the world record for the 1000m. This meant he held four middle-distance world records at once. This was another unique achievement! At the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, Coe won gold in the 1500m. He also won silver in the 800m.

In 1981, Coe set a world indoor record for the 800m. On 10 June, he set a new world 800m record in Florence. This record of 1:41.73 was not broken until August 1997. It is still the UK record today. A month later, he set another world record for the 1000m. This record lasted for 19 years. He also improved his mile record twice that year.

Coe finished 1981 undefeated in both 800m and 1500m/mile races. He was again voted Athlete of the Year. In 1982, Coe was part of a team that set a world record in the 4 x 800m relay. Their time of 7:03.89 was a world record for 24 years.

Olympic Gold Medals

In 1983, Coe faced health problems. He missed the first World Championships. But he returned strong in 1984. He competed in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In the 800m, he won a silver medal. In the 1500m final, he won the gold medal. He set an Olympic record of 3:32.53. He is the only man to win two Olympic 1500m titles in a row.

In 1986, Coe won the 800m gold medal at the European Championships. He also won silver in the 1500m. He then ran his fastest 1500m race ever in Rieti, Italy. He became only the fourth man in history to run under 3:30 for that distance.

Coe had a foot injury in 1987 and missed the whole season. In 1988, he was not chosen for the British Olympic team. He retired from competitive running in early 1990.

Trinity College's Great Court Run

The film Chariots of Fire shows a famous race at Trinity College, Cambridge. Runners try to run around the Great Court before the clock finishes striking 12 times. This takes 43.6 seconds.

Many have tried this "Great Court Run". Only two people are officially recognized for completing it in time. Sebastian Coe tried it in 1988 for a charity race. He finished in 42.53 seconds. However, a video showed he was still 12 metres from the finish when the last chime sounded. So, Trinity College did not officially accept his time.

Political Career

Coe was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1992. He represented Falmouth and Camborne for the Conservative Party. He lost his seat in the 1997 general election.

In 2000, he became a Life Peer as Baron Coe. This meant he could sit in the House of Lords. He retired from the House of Lords in 2022.

Sports Leadership Career

London 2012 Olympic Games

Coe and South African Olympian Oscar Pistorius at an International Paralympic Day event in London, 2011.

Coe at Go Local, 2013.

When London decided to bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Coe became a key person. He helped lead the bid to host the games. His presentation at the important meeting in July 2005 was very effective. London won the right to host the Olympics on 6 July.

Coe became the chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games. He helped plan and run the entire event. He even helped convince Queen Elizabeth II to appear in a short film with James Bond for the opening ceremony!

International Athletics Federation

In 2007, Coe became a vice president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). He was reappointed in 2011. In 2015, he ran for president of the IAAF. On 19 August 2015, he was elected president. He was re-elected for his third and final term in 2023.

British Olympic Association

After the London Olympics, Coe became the Chairman of the British Olympic Association. This organization helps prepare British athletes for the Olympic Games.

International Olympic Committee

On 17 July 2020, Coe was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC is the group that organizes the Olympic Games. In 2024, he was named as one of the candidates to become the next IOC president.

Personal Life

Sebastian Coe married Nicky McIrvine in 1990. They had two sons and two daughters. They divorced in 2002. In 2003, he started a relationship with Carole Annett, and they married in 2011.

Coe is an ambassador for Nike. He also owns several health clubs. He supports many running events in London. He is a fan of Chelsea Football Club, cricket, and jazz music. Coe is also colour blind.

Honours and Awards

Coe has received many honours and awards. He was made an Honorary Doctor by Loughborough University in 1985. He has also received honorary degrees from other universities.

He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1982. In 1990, he became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In 2000, he was made a Life Peer as Baron Coe. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 2006 for his work in sport. In 2013, he received the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) for his services to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

He received the first Prince of Asturias Award for Sports in 1987. After the London 2012 Games, he was given an Olympic Order. He also received a Lifetime Achievement award at the Laureus World Sport Awards.

Coe has won three awards at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony. He won the main award in 1979. He received a "Special Gold Award" in 2005 and a "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2012.

In 2017, a building at the Nike world headquarters was named after Sebastian Coe. This was to recognize him as a great middle-distance runner.

Personal Best Running Times

(WR) means this was a World Record when he set it.

Images for kids

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  Sebastian Coe in 2015

See also

In Spanish: Sebastian Coe para niños