By Ross Clarke, Sports Editor – Royal Gazette
Imagine winning two Olympic gold medals and still not considering it the crowning achievement of your life. That is how track and field legend Sebastian Coe, in Bermuda as the keynote speaker at the Chubb Bermuda Triangle this weekend, feels as he looks back on some of his biggest accomplishments.
Coe became a household name in Britain after winning gold in the 1,500 metres in Moscow in 1980 and Los Angeles in 1984, but his post-running career in politics and sports administration is what gives him the most pleasure. After leaving the track, Coe became a Conservative MP, president of the Olympic Games organising committee for London 2012, president of World Athletics, and is now campaigning to be president of the International Olympic Committee.
“In my head, delivering the Olympics to London is far bigger than anything I did individually because it impacted more people,” Coe said.
Coe is making his first visit to Bermuda and is here because of his friendship with Donna Raynor, who was elected to the World Athletics Council and chairs a number of committees.
“This is my first proper time in Bermuda,” Coe said. “I am very lucky because Donna joined the World Athletics Council back in 2023, although we have known each other for a number of years and she was very supportive and helped me in my campaign for the presidency of the sport back in 2015. The quid pro quo is that I come to Bermuda to witness the Triangle Challenge.”
Despite a CV brimming with high-profile roles, his biggest job may still be to come, with Coe campaigning to become president of the IOC. The new president will be chosen by 100 members, with his presentation to IOC members taking place in Lausanne, Switzerland.
“My candidacy is a very simple concept,” Coe said. “It is really about empowering individual federations, National Olympic Committees, our membership and our athletes. Whether it is as president of World Athletics, president of the British National Olympic Committee, or president of the organising committee in London, I have always placed the athletes absolutely at the centre because if you get it right for the athletes it all falls into place.”
Bermuda is one of the smaller NOCs among the Olympic nations but Coe is adamant that his record of levelling up will be brought with him to the IOC top job. “We either move together or we do not. It is very important that small NOCs and small federations feel that we are all swimming in the same direction.”