Peter Coe (GBR) (© Getty Images)
Peter Coe, the father and coach of twotime Olympic 1500m champion Sebastian Coe, passed away on Saturday (9) aged 88.
Sebastian Coe, an IAAF Vice-President, had delayed his trip to Beijing to spend time with his father who was seriously ill in hospital. He eventually made the flight arriving in Beijing early on Saturday morning, only to receive the sad news a few hours later that his father had died. Coe will return to the UK once funeral arrangements have been made.
Coe, the Chairman of London 2012, lost his mother, Angela, aged 75, in 2005.
Peter was the inspirational coach to the Olympic champion and multiple World record breaker during his running career. An engineer, he became a self-taught coach after realising that the training strategies for middle-distance running in the 1960s and early 70s were flawed. Peter Coe introduced revolutionary ideas to his son’s training which helped him win two Olympic 1500m golds, two Olympic 800m silver medals and break several World records.
British Olympic Association chairman Colin Moynihan praised Peter Coe's contribution to Seb's success, to British athletics and to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
"In the world of coaching and inspiring and influencing there are few men in the history of British athletics of whom it could be said that they were truly among the greatest. He had a quiet determination and concentration on detail.”
IAAF