Sebastian Coe was victorious on the running track, gaining gold for the UK. Later in life he won again - bringing home the Olympic Games for London 2012 - now just three years away.
But what of the years in between? A stint as a Tory MP resulted in a lost seat. This was followed by a short spell as William Hague's 'chief of staff'.
How did Coe re-invent himself as the champion of Britain, the underdog, in its battle against Paris for the laurel crown? Clive Coleman talks to Coe's geography teacher, Ken Livingstone and his former boss and judo partner William Hague to find out what kind of man Sebastian Coe really is.
BBC Radio 4's Profile of Sebastian Coe was originally broadcast on Saturday, 1 August 2009 at 1900 BST.
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