A massive factual error in The Spectator this week

Roger Alton in this week's Spectator has made an incredible statement. He claims that '... that miraculous Moscow 800 metres final when Seb Coe just pipped the favourite, Steve Ovett, to the gold.'

Fact check: Seb Coe was the favourite for the Olympic 800 metres, he was the then world record holder. Steve Ovett was the favourite for the 1500 metres. Steve Ovett pipped Seb Coe to the 800 metres gold and then Seb Coe managed to come back and beat Steve Ovett in the 1500 metres final (Ovett actually finished third).

Oddly four years later Seb Coe was again beaten into second place in the Olympic 800 metres final, this time by the Brazilian Joaquim Cruz. An unwell Steve Ovett finished last in the 800 metres final. Going into the 1500 metres final in Los Angeles Steve Ovett was the world record holder but was so unwell that he actually failed to finish the race. Seb Coe beat Steve Cram to win the race and thus become a double gold and silver Olympic medallist. As a side note, Peter Elliot was the third British athlete entered in the 800 metres and he finished fourth in his quarter-final.

I hate it when people get their athletics facts wrong!