born Sept. 29, 1956, London, Eng.
British runner.
He won his first major race in 1977. He first ran against his rival Steve Ovett in 1978, and the two dominated middle-distance racing in the 1980s. Coe won a total of four Olympic medals (1980, 1984) and set eight world records. From 1992 to 1997 he served as a Conservative member in the House of Commons; in 2000 he was elevated to the House of Lords. Coe also was involved with several athletic organizations.