Peter Elliott (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Peter Elliott is a former middle-distance runner from the United Kingdom
. During his career, he won the gold medal in the 1500 metres
at the 1990 Commonwealth Games
, the silver medal in the 1500 metres at the 1988 Olympic Games
, and the silver medal in the 800 metres
at the 1987 World Championships
.
, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire
. He attended Rawmarsh Comprehensive School
and later worked as a joiner
at British Steel
. Remarkably, he managed to establish himself as a world class athlete while working full-time. He began his athletic career by running in the Young Athletes League for his local club, Rotherham Harriers, and his 800m time of 1 minute 53.3 seconds has been the under-17 record since 1979. Elliott also held the UK under-17 record with a time of 1 minute 50.7 seconds, which stood for nearly 10 years. He excelled as a schoolboy athlete, winning four English Schools titles, twice at 800 metres and twice over the country.
Elliott was unfortunate to miss out on selection for the 1500m at the 1984 Olympic Games
in Los Angeles
, losing out to the eventual gold and silver medallists, Sebastian Coe and Steve Cram
, and the world record holder at the time, Steve Ovett
. At the time, it was a very controversial decision. Ovett and Cram had already secured their places. The third place was either Coe's or Elliott's. Although Elliott defeated Coe at the AAA's Championships which somehow came to be viewed as a "race off" between the two, the selectors opted for Coe. Elliott was selected for the 800m and qualified for the semi-finals, but had to withdraw due to injury.
Elliott won a bronze medal in the 800m at the 1986 Commonwealth Games
in Edinburgh
behind Steve Cram and Tom McKean
. He then won a silver medal in the event at the 1987 World Championships in Rome
. The following year, he won the silver medal in the 1500m at the Olympic Games in Seoul
. He also finished fourth in the Olympic 800m final. In January 1990, he became the Commonwealth champion over 1500m in Auckland
. Later in the year, Elliott ran an outstanding 1:42.97 over 800m in Seville
(ranking him No. 1 in the world for 1990, and making him the third fastest Briton of all time over the distance). This made him the favourite to win both middle distance gold medals at the 1990 European Championships
in Split
. However, due to injury problems he only entered for the 1500m and was tripped in the semi-final. After an appeal by the British team he was reinstated (against his own wishes and those of some other athletes), and went on to finish fourth in the final. A year later, Elliott had his revenge when he defeated the European champion Jens-Peter Herold
in the 1500m race at the European Cup in Frankfurt. He also won the Fifth Avenue Mile
in 1987, 1989 and 1990, the latter in 3:47.83 min.
After retiring from competition running in 1992, Elliott became a coach
and race organiser. He joined Newcastle
-based sports marketing agency Nova International, where he was Director of Running. In 2004 he became the Athlete Services Manager for Yorkshire at the English Institute of Sport
in Sheffield
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. During his career, he won the gold medal in the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
at the 1990 Commonwealth Games
1990 Commonwealth Games
The 1990 Commonwealth Games were held in Auckland, New Zealand from 24 January-3 February 1990. It was the 14th Commonwealth Games, and part of New Zealand's 1990 sesquicentennial celebrations. Participants competed in ten sports: athletics, aquatics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, judo,...
, the silver medal in the 1500 metres at the 1988 Olympic Games
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, and the silver medal in the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
at the 1987 World Championships
1987 World Championships in Athletics
The 2nd World Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations were held in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy between August 28 and September 6, 1987.-Track:1983 | 1987 | 1991 | 1993 | 1995...
.
Biography
Elliott was brought up in RawmarshRawmarsh
Rawmarsh is a large village in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham, in South Yorkshire, England. It is two miles north of Rotherham. It has a population of 18,210. The village also forms part of the Sheffield Urban Area.-Etymology:...
, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
. He attended Rawmarsh Comprehensive School
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
and later worked as a joiner
Joiner
A joiner differs from a carpenter in that joiners cut and fit joints in wood that do not use nails. Joiners usually work in a workshop since the formation of various joints generally requires non-portable machinery. A carpenter normally works on site...
at British Steel
British Steel
British Steel was a major British steel producer. It originated as a nationalised industry, the British Steel Corporation , formed in 1967. This was converted to a public limited company, British Steel PLC, and privatised in 1988. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
. Remarkably, he managed to establish himself as a world class athlete while working full-time. He began his athletic career by running in the Young Athletes League for his local club, Rotherham Harriers, and his 800m time of 1 minute 53.3 seconds has been the under-17 record since 1979. Elliott also held the UK under-17 record with a time of 1 minute 50.7 seconds, which stood for nearly 10 years. He excelled as a schoolboy athlete, winning four English Schools titles, twice at 800 metres and twice over the country.
Elliott was unfortunate to miss out on selection for the 1500m at the 1984 Olympic Games
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, losing out to the eventual gold and silver medallists, Sebastian Coe and Steve Cram
Steve Cram
Stephen "Steve" Cram MBE is a British retired athlete. Along with fellow Britons Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett, he was one of the world's dominant middle distance runners during the 1980s. Nicknamed "The Jarrow Arrow", Cram set world records in the 1500 metres, 2000 metres and the mile during a...
, and the world record holder at the time, Steve Ovett
Steve Ovett
Stephen Michael James "Steve" Ovett OBE , is a former middle distance runner from England. He was gold medalist in the 800 metres at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, U.S.S.R., and set world records for 1500 metres and the mile run...
. At the time, it was a very controversial decision. Ovett and Cram had already secured their places. The third place was either Coe's or Elliott's. Although Elliott defeated Coe at the AAA's Championships which somehow came to be viewed as a "race off" between the two, the selectors opted for Coe. Elliott was selected for the 800m and qualified for the semi-finals, but had to withdraw due to injury.
Elliott won a bronze medal in the 800m at the 1986 Commonwealth Games
1986 Commonwealth Games
The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
behind Steve Cram and Tom McKean
Tom McKean
Thomas McKean is a former Scottish middle distance runner who won the European Championships 800m gold medal at Split in 1990....
. He then won a silver medal in the event at the 1987 World Championships in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. The following year, he won the silver medal in the 1500m at the Olympic Games in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. He also finished fourth in the Olympic 800m final. In January 1990, he became the Commonwealth champion over 1500m in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. Later in the year, Elliott ran an outstanding 1:42.97 over 800m in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
(ranking him No. 1 in the world for 1990, and making him the third fastest Briton of all time over the distance). This made him the favourite to win both middle distance gold medals at the 1990 European Championships
1990 European Championships in Athletics
The 15th European Athletics Championships were held from 26 August to 2 September 1990 in Split, a city in Croatia .It was the last participation of East Germany ....
in Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
. However, due to injury problems he only entered for the 1500m and was tripped in the semi-final. After an appeal by the British team he was reinstated (against his own wishes and those of some other athletes), and went on to finish fourth in the final. A year later, Elliott had his revenge when he defeated the European champion Jens-Peter Herold
Jens-Peter Herold
Jens-Peter Herold is a retired German middle distance runner who participated in several international championships in the late 1980s and early 1990s.In the 1987 World Championships he came sixth over 1500 metres...
in the 1500m race at the European Cup in Frankfurt. He also won the Fifth Avenue Mile
Fifth Avenue Mile
The Fifth Avenue Mile is an annual road race in New York City. The race begins at East 80th Street and heads straight down Fifth Avenue to East 60th Street...
in 1987, 1989 and 1990, the latter in 3:47.83 min.
After retiring from competition running in 1992, Elliott became a coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and race organiser. He joined Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
-based sports marketing agency Nova International, where he was Director of Running. In 2004 he became the Athlete Services Manager for Yorkshire at the English Institute of Sport
English Institute of Sport
The English Institute of Sport , established in May 2002, is an organisation which provides sport science and medical support services to elite athletes through a nationwide network of expertise and facilities, working with Olympic and Paralympic summer and winter sports, as well as English and a...
in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
.
Personal bests
| Distance | Mark | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 400 m | 48.2 | 1984 |
| 600 m | 1:16.6 | 1983 |
| 800 m | 1:42.97 | 1990 |
| 1000 m | 2:16.30 | 1990 |
| 1500 m | 3:32.69 | 1990 |
| Mile | 3:49.20 | 1988 |
| 2000 m | 4:52.82 | 1987 |
| 3000 m | 8:07.51 | 1991 |