In what is perhaps not that surprising news, BBC Films has announced that they’re planning to make a movie about the rivalry between middle-distance athletes Steve Coe and Steve Overtt in the late 70s and early 80s. A film about the duo has been mooted for years, but with the London Olympics coming up in 2012, which of course the now Lord Coe has been instrumental in planning, has put fresh impetus in the plans.
The rivalry between the British runners, at time cordial and sometimes fierce, saw them fighting it out for olympic medals, such as at the 1980 Moscow games, when Ovett beat Coe in his favoured 800m event, while Coe beat Ovett is the latter’s preferred 1,500m. In 1981 they also traded world records for the fastest mile ever three times in 10 days, with Coe as one point holding the 800m, 1,500m and mile records, while Ovett later took over the 1,500m and mile records.
William Davies, who’s worked on the likes of Johnny English, Twins and Flushed Away has been hired to write the script, which will be based on Pat Butcher’s classic account of the two athletes, The Perfect Distance. No cast has been announced, although I’m sure there won’t be a shortage of actors lining up to play Coe and Ovett.