Jürgen STRAUB

Middle-distance runner Jürgen Straub sensationally won the silver medal in the 1,500 at the 1980 Moskva Olympic Games behind Sebastian Coe but ahead of Steve Ovett, both from Britain. In the final, the pace was absurdly slow, passing 800 in 2:04.9, when Straub began a sustained kick, trying to draw out the field, but it played into Coe’s hands, who could maintain high speed longer than anyone. He pulled up to Straub on the final curve and passed him at the beginning of the stretch, holding him off in the straight. The final has frequently been described as one of the highlights of the 1980 Olympic Games.

Straub placed third at the 1977 and 1979 World Cups. He finished seventh at the 1978 European Championships, and was fifth and sixth at the 1975 and 1977 European Cups, respectively. Straub won the 1979 European Cup, and at the European Indoors won gold in 1977 and bronze in 1978. In East Germany Straub won seven outdoor and six indoor titles over different distances, including the steeplechase.

By profession Straub was trained as an electrician, but later worked as a sports teacher and coach at his home club ASK Vorwärts Potsdam. After German reunification he lost his job and then worked for a sporting goods company and an insurance company. He also became chief organizer of the Prussian Mile, which takes place every year in Potsdam. Straub was also a senior sports and physical therapist at the rehabilitation and health sports club within the ambulatory rehabilitation department of the orthopedic specialty hospital in Potsdam-Babelsberg.

Personal Best: 1500 – 3:33.68 (1979).