View source for Steve Cram

{{short description|British retired track and field athlete|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
|name     = Steve Cram <br /> <small>[[Order of the British Empire|CBE]]</small>
|fullname = Stephen Cram<ref name=sports-reference>{{cite web|title=Steve Cram|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/cr/steve-cram-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417171527/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/cr/steve-cram-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|website=sports-reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=7 June 2015}}</ref>
|nickname = The Jarrow Arrow<ref name=sports-reference/>
|image          = SteveCram.jpg
|imagesize      = 
|caption        = Steve Cram while carrying the Torch for the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] as it passes through [[Whitehall]] in [[London]].
| sport = [[Track and field#Running|Track]]
| event = [[1500 metres]], [[Mile run|Mile]]
|alias          = 
|club           = Jarrow and Hebburn AC<ref name=britishathletics>{{cite web|title=Steve Cram|url=http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/e-inspire/hall-of-fame-athletes/steve-cram/|website=britishathletics.org.uk|publisher=[[UK Athletics]]|access-date=7 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109002625/http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/e-inspire/hall-of-fame-athletes/steve-cram/|archive-date=9 January 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|1960|10|14|df=yes}}<ref name=sports-reference/><ref name=Seppo>{{cite book|last1=Luhtala|first1=Seppo|title=Top Distance Runners of the Century|date=2002|publisher=Meyer & Meyer Sport|page=80|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F4m_eB0RvYsC|access-date=7 June 2015|isbn=9781841260693}}</ref>
|birth_place     = [[Gateshead]], England<ref name=sports-reference/><ref name=britishathletics/><ref name=Seppo/>
|height         = {{convert|6|ft|1|in|cm|abbr=on}}
|weight         = {{convert|10|st|12|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
|turnedpro      =
|retired        = 
|pb             = '''[[800 metres]]''': 1:42.88<ref name="All-Athletics">{{cite web|url=http://www.all-athletics.com/node/290647|author=All-Athletics|title=Profile of Steve Cram}}</ref> <br /> '''[[1500 metres]]''': 3:29.67<ref name="All-Athletics"/> <br /> '''[[Mile run|Mile]]''': 3:46.32<ref name="All-Athletics"/> <br /> '''[[3000 metres]]''': 7:43.1<ref name="All-Athletics"/> <br /> '''[[Two miles|2-mile]]''': 8:14.93<ref name="All-Athletics"/> <br /> '''[[5000 metres]]''': 13:28.58<ref name="All-Athletics"/>
|olympics       =
|worlds         = 
|highestranking =
|coaching       =  
|updated        = 
|medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Country | {{GBR2}} }}
{{Medal|Sport | Men's [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles]] | [[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres|1500 m]]}}
{{Medal|Competition | [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] }}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983 Helsinki]]|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 1500 metres|1500 m]]}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1982 European Championships in Athletics|1982 Athens]]|[[1982 European Athletics Championships – Men's 1500 metres|1500 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1986 European Championships in Athletics|1986 Stuttgart]]|[[1986 European Athletics Championships – Men's 1500 metres|1500 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|1986 Stuttgart|[[1986 European Championships in Athletics - Men's 800 metres|800 m]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{ENG}} }}
{{Medal|Comp|[[Athletics at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1982 Commonwealth Games|1982 Brisbane]]|[[Athletics at the 1982 Commonwealth Games – Men's 1500 metres|1500 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1986 Commonwealth Games|1986 Edinburgh]]|[[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games – Men's 800 metres|800 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1986 Commonwealth Games|1986 Edinburgh]]|[[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games – Men's 1500 metres|1500 m]]}}
}}
'''Stephen Cram''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=95%|CBE}} (born 14 October 1960) is a British retired [[track and field]] athlete. Along with fellow Britons [[Sebastian Coe]] and [[Steve Ovett]], he was one of the world's dominant [[middle-distance runner]]s during the 1980s. Nicknamed "The Jarrow Arrow", after his [[Jarrow|home town]], Cram set [[List of world records in athletics|world records]] in the [[1500 metres|1,500 m]], [[2000 metres|2,000 m]], and [[Mile run|the mile]] during a 19-day period in the summer of 1985. He was the first man to run 1,500 m under 3 minutes and 30 seconds. He won the 1,500 m [[gold medal]] at the [[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983 World Championships]] and the 1,500 m [[silver medal]] at the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Olympic Games]].

In 2000, Cram co-founded international children’s charity COCO (Comrades of Children Overseas) with [[British Army]] Major Jim Panton after running the Bosnia Comrades ultramarathon in 1998. Cram remains chairman of COCO, an organisation which currently provides education to children living in poor, remote parts of East Africa.<ref>COCO (Comrades of Children Overseas) https://www.coco.org.uk</ref>

In 2008, Cram was appointed [[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]] of the [[University of Sunderland]], replacing [[Lord Puttnam]],<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/nov/06/stevecram-sunderland-sunderlanduniversity Going the extra mile for Sunderland] ''The Guardian'' (London), 6 November 2008</ref><ref>[http://services.sunderland.ac.uk/universitysport/newsevents/news/news/index.php?nid=500 Steve Cram named new Chancellor] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321190504/http://services.sunderland.ac.uk/universitysport/newsevents/news/news/index.php?nid=500 |date=21 March 2012 }} University of Sunderland, 23 May 2008</ref> and in 2009 was elected as President of Jarrow & Hebburn Athletics Club.<ref>[http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/local-news/jarrow_arrow_will_inspire_new_generation_of_athletes_1_1244061 Jarrow Arrow will inspire new generation of athletes] ''Shields Gazette'', 28 August 2009</ref>

Cram now works as a television presenter and athletics commentator, motivational speaker and athletics coach. In 2021, he was elected as the new president of the [[British Orienteering Federation]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/index.php?pg=news_archive&item=5548|title=Steve Cram CBE Elected as British Orienteering's Fifth President|website=www.britishorienteering.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theoia.co.uk/news/steve-cram-cbe-elected-as-british-orienteerings-fifth-president/|title=Steve Cram CBE Elected as British Orienteering's Fifth President|work=theoia.co.uk|date=30 April 2021}}</ref>

== Athletics career ==
{{tone|section|date=September 2025}}
In 1980, Cram won his place in the British Olympic team after finishing in 2nd place to [[Steve Ovett]] in the mile at [[Crystal Palace National Sports Centre|Crystal Palace]]. The race had been marked as a run-off between Cram and [[Scotland|Scottish]] miler [[Graham Williamson (athlete)|Graham Williamson]] for the final place (a selection decision which was severely criticised by Ovett in his 1984 autobiography). Cram, aged 19, reached the final of the 1,500 m at the [[1980 Summer Olympics|1980 Moscow Olympic Games]], in which Ovett and [[Sebastian Coe]] famously vied for the gold medal. Cram finished in eighth place.<ref>Butcher, Pat (2005) Ovett and Coe The Record Breaking Rivalry. Phoenix {{ISBN|0-7538-1900-7}}</ref>

Capitalising on his Olympic experience, Cram made his major breakthrough in 1982, a year in which Coe and Ovett were largely absent with injuries. Cram took 1,500 m gold at the [[Commonwealth Games]] and also the [[1982 European Championships in Athletics|1982 European Championships]] in Athens, where he raced to gold after breaking from the field with 600 metres to go following Williamson's fall.

Injury had disrupted Cram in the early part of the 1983 season, but he recovered in time for the [[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983 World Championships]] in [[Helsinki]] and just prior to the games beat Coe (who was suffering from an undiagnosed virus at the time) in an [[800 metres|800 m]] at [[Gateshead]]. In a slow final, he strategically beat a large field following [[Saïd Aouita]]'s break with 500 metres to go. Ovett became trapped in the pack, ultimately finishing fourth, while Cram outkicked [[Steve Scott (athlete)|Steve Scott]] and Aouita in the last 200 metres. In a remark made in Cram's presence shortly afterwards which spoke to the depth of British milers, Ovett noted that Britain was the home of the Olympic champion, World champion and World Record holder in the 1,500 m - titles held by Coe, Cram and Ovett respectively.

At Crystal Palace later that summer, Cram won an epic mile race, in which he led Ovett by little more than a metre with 300 metres to go and maintained that lead right to the finishing line. In a 2006 interview, Cram described the race: ''"It was a cat-and-mouse affair - we both started off running at the back of the field. I beat him by little more than the thickness of a vest."''<ref>John Gibson [http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport/other-sports/2006/05/02/face-to-face-steve-cram-79310-17020775/ "Face to face: Steve Cram"] ''The Sunday Sun'', 2 May 2006</ref>

In 1984, Cram's season was severely hampered by injury, although he recovered sufficiently to win silver in the 1,500 m at the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Olympic Games]] in [[Los Angeles]], behind defending champion Coe.

He came back stronger in 1985, a year in which he was only beaten three times; by Coe at 800 m, McKean at 800 m and Ovett in a road Mile. In the 800 m, not his best event, he beat the reigning 800 m Olympic Champion, [[Joaquim Cruz]], in 1:42.88, the fastest time he was ever to run, off even splits of 51.2 & 51.7. He broke three world records (1,500 m, Mile, 2,000 m) within a 19-day span,<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=56981.html Celebrate 19 days of middle distance glory] IAAF, 5 June 2010; Retrieved 8 June 2010</ref> and recorded a British All Comers Record over the [[1000 metres|1,000 m]], running 2:12.88 in windy conditions at Gateshead (the second fastest 1,000 m in history at the time behind Coe's 2:12.18, and now 3rd to Noah Ngeny's 2:11.98). He was the first man to run under 3:30.00 for the 1,500 m, just beating [[Saïd Aouita]] in Nice (running 3:29.67 to Aouita's 3:29.71). His mile time of 3:46.32, recorded at the Bislett Stadium in Oslo, stood for eight years and, stood as the [[List of European records in athletics|European record]] until 2023 when [[Jakob Ingebrigtsen]] ran 3:43.73. This run was notable for the fact that this was an actual competitive race against Sebastian Coe with the first three laps being below schedule, although pretty even in pace distribution (57.2, 57.3, 58.7), followed by an exceptional last lap (440yds) of 53.2.

While the likes of Coe and Ovett had a devastating sprint finish over the last 100 metres, Cram tended to wind up the speed gradually over the last 300 metres of races, making him very difficult to catch. However, during the 1985 season he said (and indeed demonstrated) that he could win from any position and happily ran near the back of world class fields before unleashing his kick, often with a lap or so to go. This tactic, his elegant, high stepping action and his effortless acceleration made him one of the most exciting middle distance runners to watch.

Cram's good form continued into the 1986 season. At the [[1986 Commonwealth Games]] in [[Edinburgh]], he won the 800 m, finishing 15 metres clear of [[Tom McKean]] and [[Peter Elliott (athlete)|Peter Elliott]] in 1:43:22 - still the [[List of Commonwealth Games records in athletics|Commonwealth Games record]]. He followed this up with gold in the 1,500 m and was persuaded to run both events at the [[1986 European Championships in Athletics|1986 European Championships]] in [[Stuttgart]]. He arrived at the European Championships "just over the edge" as he suggested in David Miller's biography of Coe, "Born to Run". Nevertheless, he won the bronze in the 800 m having been blocked down the back straight by Tom McKean who made his run at the same time as Cram and, though leading into the straight, lacked the zest he showed in the Commonwealth games and was unable to hold off the challenges of McKean and a superlative Coe. Although disappointed by his 800 m defeat Cram bounced back to beat Coe to the gold medal in the 1,500 m. It turned out to be not only Cram's last major medal, but the end of the golden era for British middle distance running.

In 1987, he was no longer the outstanding 1,500 m athlete that he had been in previous years. Having previously been able to win races from any position and at any pace, he was now lacking confidence in his finishing speed, an area in which he had fallen behind some of his main rivals. He was beaten by [[José Luis González (athlete)|José Luis González]] in the [[European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]], and although he followed that with an impressive win in the 1,000 m in Stockholm, and won the Dream Mile for the third year running, he finished eighth after leading into the final bend of the [[1987 World Championships in Athletics|1987 World Championships]] final in [[Rome]]. He had said before the race that his only hope of victory was a fast race, in which he could run the finish out of his opponents, in particular [[Abdi Bile]], the eventual winner. Unhappily for Cram, the pace was slow, and he faded badly in the last 100 metres.

His 1988 season saw him return to better form and he beat Bile in the [[Oslo]] Dream Mile in 1988 - his fourth consecutive victory in that race. Having run impressively in the Olympic trials over 800 m and winning in 1:44.16, (opening up an eight-metre gap over Tom McKean in a sprint down the home straight) he was touted as one of the favourites to win the gold medal over [[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres|1,500 m]] at the [[1988 Summer Olympics|Seoul Olympics in 1988]] until a calf injury just before the games in a 1000 m race hampered his progress. The injury affected his performance at the games and he was eliminated in the heats of the 800 m. He recovered sufficiently to reach the final of the 1,500 m, but could finish only fourth in a close race surprisingly won by [[Peter Rono]].

Injury dogged him throughout his remaining years and although he continued to compete for some time, he never again looked likely to win a major championship. In the 1990 European Athletics Championships, he still finished fifth in the 1,500 m, but in the 1991 World Athletics Championships, he was eliminated in the 1,500 m semi-finals.<ref>Various countries' sports books about those championships; there is a book in Finnish about the European Athletics Championships from 1934 to 1990, and about the 1991 World Athletics Championships</ref>

He retired from athletics in 1994, and remains the UK record holder over the 2,000 m, with his UK mile record of 3:46.32 having been broken by [[Josh Kerr (runner)|Josh Kerr]] in 2024, in a time of 3:45.34.

Cram was the coach of middle-distance runners [[Laura Weightman]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teamgb.com/athletes/laura-weightman |title=Laura Weightman - 1500m - Team GB Athlete Profile|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->  |website=[[Team GB]] |access-date=16 April 2014}}</ref> [[Thomas Lancashire]] and [[Ross Murray (athlete)|Ross Murray]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/other_sport/15021364.Tom_Lancashire_targets_European_Indoor_Championship_1500m_medal_with_Steve_Cram_as_new_coach/ |title=Tom Lancashire targets European Indoor Championship 1500m medal with Steve Cram as new coach |last=Bonnar |first=Neil |date=13 January 2017 |website=[[The Bolton News]]|access-date=3 March 2017 }}</ref> In April 2014 Cram joined [[UK Athletics|British Athletics]] as an adviser and mentor in the run-up to the [[2016 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/27052639 |title=Steve Cram joins British Athletics' Endurance Programme |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=16 April 2014 |website=[[bbc.co.uk]] |access-date=16 April 2014}}</ref>

[[File:2008 Olympic Torch Relay, London AB3.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Cram carries the [[Olympic Torch]] for the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] down [[Whitehall]] in [[London]] surrounded by Police and Olympic officials on 6 April 2008]]

==Television career==
Cram now works as a [[television presenter]] and athletics commentator predominantly for [[BBC Sport]] and as a motivational speaker. He participated in [[Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex|Prince Edward]]'s 1987 charity television special ''[[The Grand Knockout Tournament]]''. Cram starred alongside UK Olympic Gold medalists [[Sally Gunnell]] and Adam Eason in BBC's 2006 primetime TV series ''Run for Glory'', helping the runners and participants overcome psychological barriers to running the [[London Marathon]].

Cram has commentated on athletics events for the BBC since 1999.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBC SPORT {{!}} BBC TEAM {{!}} Steve Cram MBE |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics2000/bbc_team/859660.stm |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

At the [[1996 Summer Olympics|Atlanta 1996 Olympics]], Cram worked for [[BBC Radio 5 Live]].<ref name=":0" /> For the [[2000 Summer Olympics|Sydney 2000 Olympics]], Cram presented coverage throughout the day and commentated on athletics events.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Schedule - BBC Programme Index |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_one_london/2000-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410101335/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_one_london/2000-09-16 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 April 2023 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=genome.ch.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-09-30 |title=Olympics TV: BBC team win gold for great presentation |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/4772683/Olympics-TV-BBC-team-win-gold-for-great-presentation.html |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}}</ref> At the [[2004 Summer Olympics|Athens 2004 Summer Olympics]], Cram anchored morning coverage of the Games with [[Hazel Irvine]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Press Office - The Olympics and Paralympics 2004 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/07_july/06/olympics.shtml#:~:text=Steve%20Rider%20and%20Sue%20Barker,day's%20highlights%20in%20Olympics%20Today. |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> For the [[Beijing 2008|Beijing 2008 Games]], Cram had joined the commentary team for athletics events.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Press Office - 2008 Olympics press pack: BBC Television team |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/06_june/19/olympics5.shtml |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> This was a position he took again for the [[London 2012|London 2012 Games]], leading the commentary team.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-05-15 |title=London 2012 Olympics: BBC presenters and commentary teams |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/18070768 |access-date=2025-05-01 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> He returned to the same position for the [[Rio 2016|Rio 2016 Olympics]], [[2020 Summer Olympics|Tokyo 2020 Games]] and [[Paris 2024 Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rio 2016 on the BBC - TV |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/rio/tv |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tokyo 2020 on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/mediapacks/tokyo-2020/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fall in love with the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/olympic-games-paris-2024-on-the-bbc |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

Cram has also worked on multiple [[Commonwealth Games]] for the BBC. Cram commentated on the athletics events on the [[Manchester 2002|Manchester 2002 Games]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC SPORT {{!}} Commonwealth Games 2002 {{!}} BBC Coverage |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/commonwealthgames2002/hi/bbc_coverage/default.stm |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> At the [[Melbourne 2006|Melbourne 2006 Games]], Cram presented and reported from multiple sports.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC SPORT {{!}} Commonwealth Games 2002 {{!}} BBC Coverage |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/commonwealthgames2002/hi/bbc_coverage/default.stm |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> He returned to the commentary box for the following games: [[Delhi 2010]], [[Glasgow 2014]], [[Gold Coast 2018]] and [[Birmingham 2022]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Press Office - Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/09_september/17/commonwealth.shtml |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Biographies |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/cwg/biogs |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/commonwealth-games-2018#:~:text=The%20TV%20line-up%20includes,Paula%20Radcliffe%20and%20Katharine%20Merry. |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/birmingham-2022-commonwealth-games-on-the-bbc#:~:text=Daily%20coverage%20will%20begin%20on,for%20all%20the%20athletics%20events. |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

Cram was one of the main presenters of the BBC's coverage of the [[Salt Lake City 2002|Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Press Office - 2008 Olympics press pack: Olympics coverage on BBC TV |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/06_june/19/olympics3.shtml |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Four years later, Cram returned to present and report on the [[Turin 2006|Turin 2006 Games]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Press Office - 2008 Olympics press pack: Olympics coverage on BBC TV |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/06_june/19/olympics3.shtml |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> For the [[Vancouver 2010|Vancouver 2010 Olympics]], Cram replaced [[Dougie Donnelly]] as the main [[Curling]] commentator, working alongside [[Rhona Martin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Press Office - Network TV Programme Information BBC Week 7 Winter Olympics 2010 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/2010/wk7/olympics.shtml |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> This was a position he returned to for the [[Sochi 2014|Sochi 2014 Games]], this time alongside [[Jackie Lockhart]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/winter_olympics_2014 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en}}</ref> For the [[Pyeongchang 2018|Pyeongchang 2018 Olympics]], Cram returned again with Martin, Lockhart, [[Logan Gray]] and [[David Murdoch]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/pyeongchang |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> Cram once again commentated on the curling events at the [[Beijing 2022|Beijing 2022 Olympics]], with Martin, Lockhart and Gray.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/beijing-2022-winter-olympic-games |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Cram's mother Marie was born in Germany and he considered representing Germany because of the dominance of Coe and Ovett.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2319546/Oh-for-the-days-when-Cram-and-co-ruled.html|title=Oh for the days when Cram and co ruled|first=Robert|last=Philip|date=21 August 2007|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> Cram was married to Karen for many years, but they divorced in 2006 and since then he has lived with former athlete [[Allison Curbishley]] in [[Northumberland]]. He has two children, Josie and Marcus, who have had some success in under-age races. Cram had one sibling, a younger brother Kevin, who very sadly died in a fall aged just 39 while out for a run in Cardiff in 2001.

In August 2014, Cram was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to ''[[The Guardian]]'' opposing [[Scottish independence]] in the run-up to September's [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|referendum on that issue]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/07/celebrities-open-letter-scotland-independence-full-text |title=Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories |work=The Guardian |date=7 August 2014 |access-date=26 August 2014}}</ref>

He is a supporter of [[Sunderland A.F.C.]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/35798388 |title=Premier League predictions: Lawro v Sunderland fan Steve Cram |website=[[BBC Sport]] |date=19 March 2016 |access-date=31 January 2021}}</ref>

==Awards==
Cram was voted [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]] in 1983. He was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in 1986 and [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to sport.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=61092 |supp=y|page=N9|date=31 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/391413/New_Year_Honours_List_2015.pdf|title=2015 New Year Honours List}}</ref>

== Personal bests ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Distance||Mark||Date
|-
|''800 m''||1:42.88||1985
|-
|''1000 m''||2:12.88||1985
|-
|''1500 m''||3:29.67||1985
|-
|''Mile''||3:46.32||1985
|-
|''2000 m''   '''NR'''||4:51.39||1985
|-
|''2 Miles''||8:14.93||1983
|-
|''5000 m''||13:28.58||1989
|-
|''Marathon''||2:35:44||1999
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Steve Cram}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110703034917/http://www.profsports.com/en/default/profile-35.html Profile - Steve Cram] Professional Sports Group
*[http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/university/ourpeople/welcome/ Our Chancellor - Steve Cram MBE] University of Sunderland
*{{IAAF}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|GBR}} [[Steve Ovett]]|title=[[World record progression 1500 metres|Men's 1,500 m World Record Holder]]|years=16 July 1985 – 23 August 1985|after={{flagicon|MAR}} [[Saïd Aouita]]}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|GBR}} [[Sebastian Coe]]|title=[[World record progression for the mile run|Men's Mile World Record Holder]]|years=27 July 1985 – 5 September 1993|after={{flagicon|ALG}} [[Noureddine Morceli]]}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|GBR}} [[Steve Ovett]]|title=[[European record progression 1500 metres men|European Record Holder Men's 1500m]]|years=16 July 1985 – 12 August 1997|after={{flagicon|ESP}} [[Fermín Cacho]]}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box 
| before=[[Carl Lewis]] |
| title=[[United Press International Athlete of the Year Award#Male winners|United Press International<br />Athlete of the Year]] |
| after=[[Diego Maradona]] |
| years=1985}}
{{s-aca}}
{{s-bef|before=[[David Puttnam|The Lord Puttnam]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chancellor of the [[University of Sunderland]] | years=2008–''Present''}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Footer World Champions 1500 m Men}}
{{Footer European Champions 1500 m Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 800m Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 1500m Men}}
{{Footer UK NC 5000 Metres Men}}
{{Footer WBYP 800m Men}}
{{Footer WBYP 1500m Men}}
{{Footer WBYP Mile Men}}
{{BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cram, Steve}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Jarrow]]
[[Category:English men middle-distance runners]]
[[Category:British men middle-distance runners]]
[[Category:World record setters in the sport of athletics]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1980 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1978 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1982 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1986 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Great Britain]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:European Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:BBC sports presenters and reporters]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Alumni of Northumbria University]]
[[Category:Chancellors of the University of Sunderland]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Sunderland]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:English people of German descent]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1982 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1986 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics]]