• “In my first marathon I got excited, even euphoric. It was a feeling I never had on the track. On the road competitors hand around sponges. In a 5,000 metres all they give you are elbows.” – Dick Quax

• “She’s not Ben Johnson. But then, who is?” – David Coleman

• “Not a good night for Zola Budd. She died on the last lap and finished fourth.” – IRN news

• “He opened his legs and showed us what he’s got.” – David Coleman

• “The French cannot produce great track and field teams like it can produce great wines for probably that very reason. The winemakers got in first.” – Michel Lourie, French national coach.

• “Watch the time – it gives you an indication of just how fast they are running.” – Ron Pickering

• “I was not talented enough to run and smile at the same time” – Emil Zatopek, champion Czechoslovakian distance runner, when asked about unusual facial expression when running.

• “Cram nailed his colours to the mast and threw down the Great Pretender” – Ron Pickering

• “Mary Decker Slaney, the world greatest front runner, I shouldn’t be surprised to see her at the front” – Ron Pickering

• “Ingrid Kristiansen then has smashed the world record, running the 5000 metres in 14:58.89. Truly amazing. Incidentally, this is a personal best for Ingrid Kristiansen.” – David Coleman