© Stade de France ®
Macary, Zublena et Regembal
Costantini - Architects
ADAGP - Paris - 2002
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COMPETITION  EVENTS |
 THE ART OF 800-METRE RUNNING
Paris 2003 Saint-Denis
In the crossover between sprinting and distance running, the 800m distinguishes itself from the 400m, not only because it involves an extra lap of the track, but also because it requires both endurance and tactical nous, often resulting in heart-stopping excitement.
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| Olympic Games, Moscow 1980. Silver medal for Sebastian Coe Vandystadt |
A brief history
A derivative of the English mile, the 800m was born in England during the 14th century. At the first professional competitions, races were contested over 880 yards or half a mile (804.67m). In 1876, Walter Slade improved what can be regarded as the first world record at the distance by three times, slashing it to 1’58’’1/5. The first real master of the discipline was the American Melvin Sheppard, a double Olympic champion in 1908 at London over 800 and 1,500m. From Tom Hampson, as regular as a metronome, to John Woodruff and his formidable stride (he measured 1.90 m), the 800m provided some titanic tussles. In 1962, Peter Snell made his mark on the distance when he shattered the world record in 1’44’’3 on the grass at Christchurch. Others who enjoyed spells of dominance include Fiasconaro, Wohlhuter and Juantorena… before the reign of a certain Sebastian Coe.
The basic principles
The 800m is basically all about suffering, but this is less intense than at 400m. For while on a single lap of the track, the athlete goes all out without holding anything back, the 800-metre runner has to be able to concentrate his efforts at the right moment.
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| Andre Bucher, one of Wilson Kipketer's rival Vandystadt |
An alliance of ingenuity, anticipation and positional sense, the 800m demands true tactical intelligence in order not to remain trapped in the pack. It’s no surprise then that the discipline is open to a wide range of profiles, consisting of athletes moving up from the 400m, formidable for their burst of speed towards the end of a tactical race, or those moving down from longer distances, adept at pacing themselves.
The major figures
Sebastian Coe (GBR): One of the latter category, this British 1,500metre specialist was twice Olympic champion at that distance before finding a new lease of life at 800m. On 5 July 1979 in Oslo, he bettered Juantorena’s world record (1’42’’33) by over a second, demonstrating the virtue of a tactical race. Silver medallist at the 1980 Moscow games, he delivered a masterclass one year later at Florence, completing the two laps of the track in 1’41’’73. In two years under Coe’s impetus, the 800m made a staggering progression. His world record would remain intact for an incredible 16 years, until in August 1997, Wilson Kipkter outstripped it at Zurich in 1’41’’24.
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| Vandystadt |
Maria Mutola (MOZ): The talismanic figure of the 800m, she has dominated the discipline almost unchallenged for the past decade, and in 2000 at Sydney, the Mozambican received the recognition she deserved when she was crowned Olympic champion. 10 years on from her first title triumph in Stuttgart, the twice world champion has her eyes on a treble at Paris Saint-Denis, although her rival, the Austrian Stefanie Graf, looks determined to throw a spanner in the works.
World records
Men’s: Wilson Kipkter (DEN) 1’41’’11
Women’s: Jarmila Kratochvilova (CZH) 1’53’’28
The schedule
Women:
1st round: Saturday 23 August, 17:25
Semi-finals: Sunday 24 August , 17:40
Final: Tuesday 26 August, 20:45
Men:
1st round: Thursday 28 August
Semi-finals: Friday 29 August , 20:40
Final: Sunday 31 August, 17:30
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