Steve Ovett
GBRMenBirth dateOct 9, 1955
BirthplaceBrighton, United Kingdom
Height1.83 m
Weight70 kg
Stephen Michael James Ovett, (; born 9 October 1955) is a retired British track athlete. A middle-distance runner, he was the gold medalist in the 800 metres at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Ovett set five world records for 1500 metres and the mile run, and a world best at two miles. He won 45 consecutive 1500 and mile races from 1977 to 1980.
Key facts
Mile
3:48.40
Medals
Olympic Games: 1 gold, 1 bronze
Age
70 years old
As of Sep 12, 2026: 1500 m 3:30.77 (#89 all-time), Mile 3:48.40, 1989 season best 3:37.40 (Jul 25, 1989, La Coruña (ESP)) · Olympic Games: 1 gold, 1 bronze · 70 years old
PB
Personal bests
3:48.40
7:41.3HT
1:05:38
4:57.71
2:15.91
8:13.51
🏅
Medals
| 🥇 | 🥈 | 🥉 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 1 | - | 1 | 2 |
Performance Charts
Season bests
| Season | Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Trend | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 800m | 1:48.18 | - | Sep 20, 1989 | ↓ | New Delhi (IND) |
| 1989 | 1500m | 3:37.40 | - | Jul 25, 1989 | ↑ | La Coruña (ESP) |
| 1989 | Mile | 3:59.68 | - | Sep 15, 1989 | ↓ | London (GBR) |
| 1988 | 1500m | 3:36.90 | - | Aug 14, 1988 | ↑ | Hengelo (NED) |
| 1988 | Mile | 3:58.71 | - | Jul 5, 1988 | ↓ | Cork (IRL) |
| 1988 | 3000m | 8:05.41 | - | Jun 1, 1988 | ↓ | Sevilla (ESP) |
| 1987 | 1500m | 3:36.43 | - | Aug 13, 1987 | ↑ | Koblenz (GER) |
| 1987 | Mile | 3:57.03 | - | Jul 7, 1987 | ↓ | Cork (IRL) |
| 1987 | 3000m | 7:44.83 | - | Jul 20, 1987 | ↓ | Belfast (GBR) |
| 1987 | 2Miles | 8:24.05 | - | Aug 14, 1987 | ↓ | London (GBR) |
| 1987 | 5000m | 13:23.19 | - | Aug 5, 1987 | ↑ | La Coruña (ESP) |
| 1986 | 1500m | 3:33.78 | - | Aug 6, 1986 | ↑ | Koblenz (GER) |
| 1986 | Mile | 3:52.99 | - | Jul 8, 1986 | ↓ | Cork (IRL) |
| 1986 | 5000m | 13:20.06 | - | Jun 30, 1986 | ↑ | Belfast (GBR) |
| 1985 | 1500m | 3:37.74 | - | Jul 2, 1985 | ↑ | Stockholm (SWE) |
| 1985 | Mile | 3:55.01 | - | Jul 23, 1985 | ↓ | Edinburgh (GBR) |
| 1985 | 3000m | 7:49.83 | - | Jul 7, 1985 | ↓ | Birmingham (GBR) |
| 1985 | 2Miles | 8:29.18 | - | Aug 26, 1985 | ↓ | London (GBR) |
| 1984 | 800m | 1:44.81 | - | Aug 5, 1984 | ↓ | Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA (USA) |
| 1984 | 1500m | 3:34.50 | - | Jun 28, 1984 | ↑ | Oslo (NOR) |
| 1983 | 800m | 1:45.25 | - | Aug 26, 1983 | ↓ | Bruxelles (BEL) |
| 1983 | 1000m | 2:17.26 | - | Jul 15, 1983 | ↑ | London (GBR) |
| 1983 | 1500m | 3:30.77 | - | Sep 4, 1983 | ↑ | Rieti (ITA) |
| 1983 | Mile | 3:50.49 | - | Aug 23, 1983 | ↓ | Oslo (NOR) |
| 1982 | 800m | 1:46.08 | - | Aug 11, 1982 | ↓ | Viareggio (ITA) |
| 1982 | 1500m | 3:38.48 | - | Aug 7, 1982 | ↑ | London (GBR) |
| 1982 | 2000m | 4:57.71 | - | Jul 7, 1982 | ↑ | Oslo (NOR) |
| 1982 | 3000m | 7:43.87 | - | Jun 26, 1982 | ↓ | Oslo (NOR) |
| 1981 | 800m | 1:46.40 | - | Aug 31, 1981 | ↓ | London (GBR) |
| 1981 | 1500m | 3:31.57 | - | Jul 29, 1981 | ↑ | Budapest (HUN) |
| 1981 | Mile | 3:48.40 | - | Aug 26, 1981 | ↓ | Koblenz (GER) |
| 1981 | 2Miles | 8:25.52 | - | Sep 11, 1981 | ↓ | London (GBR) |
| 1980 | 800m | 1:45.40 | - | Jul 26, 1980 | ↓ | Lenin Stadium, Moskva (URS) |
| 1980 | 1500m | 3:31.36 | - | Aug 27, 1980 | ↑ | Koblenz (GER) |
| 1980 | Mile | 3:48.8h | - | Jul 1, 1980 | ↓ | Oslo (NOR) |
| 1980 | 5000m | 13:27.87 | - | Aug 8, 1980 | ↑ | London (GBR) |
| 1979 | 800m | 1:44.91 | - | Aug 19, 1979 | ↓ | Köln (GER) |
| 1979 | 1000m | 2:15.91 | - | Sep 6, 1979 | ↑ | Koblenz (GER) |
| 1979 | 1500m | 3:32.11 | - | Sep 4, 1979 | ↑ | Bruxelles (BEL) |
| 1979 | Mile | 3:49.57 | - | Aug 31, 1979 | ↓ | London (GBR) |
| 1978 | 800m | 1:44.09 | - | Aug 31, 1978 | ↓ | Praha European Championships, Stadion Evžena Rošického, Praha |
| 1978 | 1500m | 3:35.59 | - | Sep 3, 1978 | ↑ | Praha European Championships, Stadion Evžena Rošického, Praha |
| 1978 | Mile | 3:52.8h | - | Sep 20, 1978 | ↓ | Stovner (NOR) |
| 1978 | 2000m | 4:57.82 | - | Jun 3, 1978 | ↑ | London (GBR) |
| 1978 | 3000m | 7:43.4 | - | Sep 15, 1978 | ↓ | London (GBR) |
| 1978 | 2Miles | 8:13.51 | - | Sep 15, 1978 | ↓ | London (GBR) |
| 1977 | 800m | 1:48.3h | - | Aug 29, 1977 | ↓ | London (GBR) |
| 1977 | 1500m | 3:34.45 | - | Sep 3, 1977 | ↑ | Düsseldorf IAAF World Cup |
| 1977 | Mile | 3:54.69 | - | Jun 26, 1977 | ↓ | London (GBR) |
| 1977 | 2000m | 5:04.7h | - | Sep 24, 1977 | ↑ | Hannover (GER) |
| 1977 | 3000m | 7:41.3h | - | Sep 23, 1977 | ↓ | Wattenscheid (GER) |
| 1977 | 5000m | 13:25.0h | - | Jul 30, 1977 | ↑ | Gateshead (GBR) |
| 1977 | Semi | 1:05:38 | - | Aug 20, 1977 | - | Dartford (GBR) |
| 1976 | 800m | 1:45.44 | - | Jul 25, 1976 | ↓ | Olympic Stadium, Montréal (CAN) |
| 1976 | 1000m | 2:19.16 | - | Aug 16, 1976 | ↑ | Nice (FRA) |
| 1976 | 1500m | 3:37.89 | - | Jul 29, 1976 | ↑ | Olympic Stadium, Montréal (CAN) |
| 1975 | 800m | 1:46.09 | - | Aug 2, 1975 | ↓ | London (GBR) |
| 1975 | Mile | 3:57.00 | - | Jun 30, 1975 | ↓ | - |
| 1974 | 800m | 1:47.0h | - | Sep 2, 1974 | ↓ | Roma European Championships |
| 1974 | Mile | 3:59.4 | - | Jul 17, 1974 | ↓ | - |
| 1973 | 800m | 1:47.34 | - | Jul 14, 1973 | ↓ | London (GBR) |
1989
6 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
800m | 1:48.18 | - | Sep 20 | New Delhi |
1500m | 3:40.99 | - | Sep 19 | New Delhi |
Mile | 3:59.68 | - | Sep 15 | London |
1500m | 3:37.40 | - | Jul 25 | La Coruna, La Coruña |
1500m | 3:39.8HT | - | Jul 1 | Palermo |
1500m | 3:38.44 | - | Jun 27 | Kvarnsveden |
1988
9 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1500m | 3:42.30 | - | Sep 5 | New Delhi |
1500m | 3:43.24 | - | Aug 28 | Koblenz |
1500m | 3:36.90 | - | Aug 14 | Adriaan Paulen Memorial, Hengelo |
1500m | 3:47.45 | - | Aug 7 | Birmingham AAA Championships, Birmingham |
1500m | 3:43.98 | - | Aug 6 | Birmingham AAA Championships, Birmingham |
1500m | 3:40.30 | - | Jul 30 | Hechtel Night of Athletics, Hechtel |
Mile | 3:58.71 | - | Jul 5 | Cork |
3000m | 8:05.41 | - | Jun 1 | Sevilla |
1500m | 3:42.28 | - | May 22 | Sao Paulo, São Paulo |
1987
14 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mile | 4:01.29 | - | Sep 13 | London |
5000m | 13:33.49 | - | Sep 6 | IAAF World Championships |
5000m | 13:28.68 | - | Sep 4 | IAAF World Championships |
5000m | 13:33.49 | - | Aug 29 | IAAF World Championships |
5000m | 13:28.68 | - | Aug 29 | IAAF World Championships |
2Miles | 8:24.05 | - | Aug 14 | London |
1500m | 3:36.43 | - | Aug 13 | Koblenz |
5000m | 13:23.19 | - | Aug 5 | La Coruna, La Coruña |
3000m | 7:44.83 | - | Jul 20 | Belfast |
3000m | 7:52.99 | - | Jul 17 | Birmingham |
Mile | 4:01.82 | - | Jul 15 | Barcelona |
Mile | 3:57.03 | - | Jul 7 | Cork |
Mile | 4:00.72 | - | Jun 20 | Portsmouth |
3000m | 7:51.22 | - | Jun 13 | Gateshead |
1986
8 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
5000m | 13:31.24 | - | Aug 28 | Stuttgart European Championships |
5000m | 13:31.24 | - | Aug 26 | Stuttgart European Championships |
5000m | DNF | - | Aug 26 | Stuttgart European Championships |
1500m | 3:33.78 | - | Aug 6 | Koblenz |
5000m | 13:24.11 | - | Jul 31 | Edinburgh Commonwealth Games |
1500m | 3:34.50 | - | Jul 22 | Paris Meeting BNP, Paris |
Mile | 3:52.99 | - | Jul 8 | Cork |
5000m | 13:20.06 | - | Jun 30 | Belfast |
1985
7 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2Miles | 8:29.18 | - | Aug 26 | London GBR-HUN-POL-TCH Int. Match, London |
1500m | 3:37.91 | - | Jul 30 | - |
Mile | 3:55.01 | - | Jul 23 | Edinburgh |
3000m | 7:49.83 | - | Jul 7 | Birmingham GBR-GDR Int. Match, Birmingham |
1500m | 3:37.74 | - | Jul 2 | Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm |
Mile | 3:56.34 | - | Jun 24 | Belfast |
1500m | 3:38.51 | - | Jun 15 | London |
1984
6 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1500m | 3:36.55 | - | Aug 10 | The XXIII Olympic Games, Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA |
1500m | 3:49.23 | - | Aug 9 | The XXIII Olympic Games, Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA |
800m | 1:52.28 | - | Aug 6 | The XXIII Olympic Games |
800m | 1:44.81 | - | Aug 5 | The XXIII Olympic Games, Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA |
800m | 1:45.72 | - | Aug 4 | The XXIII Olympic Games, Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA |
800m | 1:46.66 | - | Aug 3 | The XXIII Olympic Games, Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA |
Showing 1 - 50 of 205
Honours
🥇
1986Edinburgh Commonwealth Games
5000 Metres
🥇
1986Edinburgh Commonwealth Games
5000 Metres
8
1984The XXIII Olympic Games
800 Metres
4
1983IAAF World Championships
1500 Metres
🥇
1981Roma IAAF World Cup
1500 Metres
🥉
1980The XXII Olympic Games
1500 Metres
🥇
1980The XXII Olympic Games
800 Metres
🥈
1978Praha European Championships
800 Metres
🥇
1978Praha European Championships
1500 Metres
🥇
1978Praha European Championships
1500 Metres
🥈
1978Praha European Championships
800 Metres
🥇
1977Düsseldorf IAAF World Cup
1500 Metres
5
1976The XXI Olympic Games
800 Metres
🥈
1974Roma European Championships
800 Metres
🥈
1974Roma European Championships
800 Metres
🥇
1973European Junior Championships
800 Metres
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is Steve Ovett's 1500 m personal best?
Steve Ovett's 1500 m personal best is 3:30.77, set on Sep 4, 1983 in Rieti (ITA), #89 on the all-time list.
Which events does Steve Ovett compete in?
Steve Ovett competes in the 1500 m and Mile.
How did Steve Ovett perform in 1989?
1989 season best: 3:37.40, set on Jul 25, 1989 in La Coruña (ESP).
How many medals has Steve Ovett won?
Steve Ovett has won 2 Olympic Games medals.