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| David Moorcroft | |
 at Coventry walk of fame unveiling 16 May 2008
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| Born | 10 April 1953 Coventry, England. |
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| Known for | World records in middle and long distance running, Chief Executive of UK Athletics. |
| Spouse(s) | Linda |
| Children | 2 |
David Robert Moorcroft (born April 10, 1953) is a former English 1500 m and 5000 m runner whose career spanned the late 1970s and 1980s. He was also Chief Executive of UK Athletics from 1997 to 2007. He was awarded an MBE in 1983 and an OBE in 1998 for services to British sport. Moorcroft is still the UK record holder for 3000m and 5000m.
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Early life
Moorcroft was born in Coventry, West Midlands and he has an elder sister. He was a pupil at Woodlands Comprehensive School. He studied Physical Education and Sport Science at Loughborough University. He has been a member of the Coventry Godiva Harriers athletics club since 1964 and is currently the club’s President.
Running
Moorcroft made his senior debut for Great Britain in 1973 and competed in his first Olympic Games in Montreal 1976, placing seventh in the 1,500-metre final.[1] He won gold in the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton at 1500 metres. Just four weeks later, he won the bronze medal at the same distance in the European Athletics Championships in Prague, then Czechoslovakia.[2] In the 1980 Moscow Olympics, he suffered from stomach problems and was eliminated in the 5,000-metre semifinals.[3]
Moorcroft had a remarkable season in 1982, where he broke the 5000m World Record by 5.79 seconds (without the use of pace-making). His time of 13:00.41 set at the Bislett Games in Oslo stood for three years until broken by Said Aouita. He remains the last non-African to set a 5000m world record. In the 1982 running season, he set a personal record in most distances, but probably ran too many races or for some reason lost his peak shape before the European Athletics Championships in Athens. There he took the bronze medal at 5,000 metres, losing to West Germany's Thomas Wessinghage and East Germany's Werner Schildhauer.[4]
The same year, he won gold in the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane over 5000m, he broke the European and British 3000m record with a time of 7:32.79 and he demonstrated his lower end range by recording 1:46.64 for 800m. Both his 5000m and 3000m times remain British records.
He competed in his third and final Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984, placing 14th at 5,000 metres due to a pelvic injury,[5] but was still on the British team until the late 80s. He continued running and his time of 4:02.53 over 1 mile in Belfast in 1993 remains a world masters record for 40+ age group.
Broadcasting and charity work
David covered athletics events for BBC television and radio between 1983 and 1997.
At the same time, he was developing the Coventry Sports Foundation for which he was Chief Executive from 1981 to 1995 (and remains a Trustee). The Foundation now owns and operates three major sports facilities and numerous related projects serving targeted communities in Coventry. It has attracted over £20m of capital and £8m of revenue funding.
For the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Moorcroft provided track and field analysis for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
UK Athletics
He was appointed as Chief Executive of the British Athletic Federation in 1997 at a time when the finances of athletics in the UK were perilous. Indeed two weeks later the federation was placed into administration, leading to the creation of a successor body: UK Athletics. He remained Chief Executive until January 2007 – having announced his decision to resign in August 2006.
Under his leadership, the federation rebuilt financially through a combination of sponsorship, broadcasting and public funds. On his departure UK Athletics’ turnover was over £18m per annum. One of his final acts as Chief Executive was helping to secure a £50m investment from Norwich Union into athletics at all levels up to 2012.
A new television deal was agreed which brought athletics back to the BBC and a series of televised events staged across the UK each year. The IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham and the EAA European Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh were held in 2003, and the rights were secured to stage the 2007 EAA European Indoor Championships in Birmingham, the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh and the 2007 EAA European Cup of Race Walking in Leamington Spa.
A network of new indoor training facilities were developed across the UK and a major refurbishment investment of English tracks took place, funded by the £41m ‘Legacy Fund’ granted to athletics by the Government following the cancellation of the 2005 World Championships in London.
On the track, the British team had mixed fortunes. At the Olympic Games in 2000 and 2004, five gold medals were won – comparing favourably with a total of two golds in the previous three Games. However, the results in World and European Championships declined. On leaving UK Athletics, he pointed to positive signs with a new generation of athletes who are building towards London 2012.
pointfourone
Moorcroft has now formed pointfourone sports consultancy with Rob Borthwick (also formerly of UK Athletics). The partnership was formed in summer 2007 and is named after his 5000m world record run of 13:00.41.
iGlobalFitness
Moorcroft has become the UK chairman of iGlobalFitness, the first of its kind to offer a worldwide network of personal fitness training services for both the corporate and consumer market. It is a role which is well suited to Moorcroft because of his extensive experience in both athletics and the boardroom.
Personal life
Moorcroft is married to Linda, they have two children, Paul and Lucy.
References
- ^ Matti Hannus, "The Montreal Olympic Book" / Montrealin Olympiakirja, published in Finland in 1976
- ^ Pat Butcher, The Perfect Distance: Coe&Ovett - The Record-Breaking Rivalry, London: Weidenfeld&Nicolson, 2004
- ^ "The Moscow Olympic Book" / Moskovan olympiakirja, edited by the "Runner" / Juoksija magazine's journalists and published in Finland in 1980
- ^ Butcher, The Perfect Distance; "The Big Events of Top Sports Until 1982" / Huippu-urheilun suurtapahtumat vuoteen 1982 asti, published in Finland in 1982; "The Big European Championships Book" / Suuri EM-kirja, published in Finland in 1990
- ^ "The Big Olympic Book" / Suuri Olympiakirja, edited by the "Runner" / Juoksija magazine's journalists and published in Finland in 1984; The Olympic Games, a book published in the early 2000's
External links
| Sporting positions | ||
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Preceded by Steve Scott |
Men's 3,000 m Best Year Performance 1982 |
Succeeded by Doug Padilla |
Preceded by Henry Rono |
Men's 5,000 m Best Year Performance 1982 |
Succeeded by Fernando Mamede |
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