Seb Coe

Seb Coe was born in Chiswick on 29 September 1956. However, Seb has strong Sheffield roots and began his running career at the age of 12 when he joined Sheffield's Hallamshire Harriers. Between studies at Tapton and Abbeydale Grange Schools, the teenager won county and schools championships at 3,000m, 1,500m and cross-country. Sebastian Coe was English Schools Champion in 1972 and made his Great Britain International debut in 1976.

 

He competed in the European Championships in 1978 in Prague where he won Bronze in the 800m. In 1982 in Athens he won Silver in the 800m and in 1986 in Stuttgart he won Gold in the 800m. In 1979 he was the European Indoor 800m Champion and he finished 1st in the European Cup in 1979 and 1981.

 

Seb competed in the Athletics World Cup in 1981 and 1989 and finished 1st and 2nd respectively. At the Moscow Olympic Games in 1980 he won Gold in the 1500m and Silver in the 800m - a feat that he repeated in Los Angeles in 1984.

 

In all Seb set 12 world records during his athletic career. He retired from competitive athletics in 1990 and then became a Conservative MP and Private Secretary to William Hague.

 

He retains close links with his sport through a variety of national and international bodies and he is a Council Member of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

 

Having built a close relationship with the International Olympic Committee, he led the London bid to host the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012 to victory in July 2005. He is now Chairman of London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 

Seb received a KBE in the 2006 New Year’s Honours List.

 

Councillor Jan Wilson, Leader of Sheffield Council commented: "Seb had a remarkable career on the running track and then was instrumental in winning the 2012 Games for Britain. There will be few athletes who have made a greater contribution to their sport than Seb and he thoroughly deserves to be one of the first Sheffield Legends."