Steve Cram

100 North East Heroes

Born: October 14, 1960, Gateshead.

Steve Cram was one of Britain's greatest-ever middle distance runners at a time when our athletes ruled the world.

He competed as a teenager at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games in the 1500m in which Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett vied for the gold medal.

Capitalising on his Olympic experience, Cram became European and Commonwealth Games champion at 1500m.

Arguably his greatest year was in 1985 when he was virtually invincible. He beat the reigning 800m Olympic Champion, Joaquim Cruz over two laps, broke world records in the 1500m, mile and 2000m within a 19-day span, and recorded a British All-Comers Record over the 1000m, running in 2:12.88.

He was the first man to run under 3:30 for the 1500m, just beating his Said Aouita in Nice. He ran in 3:29.67 to Aouita's 3:29.71.

Cram's good form continued into the 1986 season in which he won both the 800m and 1500m at the Commonwealth Games.

Later in the season he won the bronze in the European Championships over 800m while beating Coe to the gold medal over the 1500m. He was favourite to win the gold medal over 1500m at the Seoul Olympics in 1988, but a calf injury just before the games meant he was only able to finish fourth.

Injury dogged him throughout his remaining years and he retired in 1994. Cram, an avid Sunderland fan, now works as a television presenter and athletics commentator.

Quote/fact: In 1983 Steve was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year and in 1986 he was awarded an MBE.