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FORMER British middle-distance runner and gold medalist, Steve Ovett made a 'flashy return' this week after completing the infamous 94 kilometer Kokoda Trail.
The one-time champion runner got another welcome surprise ? this time by the waiting media personnel on Monday after his final struggle up the steep ascent to Owers' Corner where more than one thousand overseas trekkers come to pass each year after the trekking before heading to Port Moresby.
Did he run? No, the former British icon walked the Kokoda Trail – all in the name of charity. Steve with his three companions, Ross Eason, John Thompson and Geoff Campbell arrived in Papua New Guinea on 27th September to raise funds for the Bloomhill Cancer Care Help Centre on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, through a nine-day trek along the old war track.
Steve Ovett – England's great middle-distance runner makes a flashy return from Kokoda – the media personnel were at Ower's Corner to meet him
DCP_0157.JPGThe trek was formerly organised by Richard Thompson, a cancer sufferer who is Steve's best friend and also a brother of one of the trekkers, John.
A humbled man, Steve left his luxurious British home to settle with his Australian wife and four children in Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
The former champion runner has a long track record of being one of the very best and famous athletes during the 1970s.
The four trekkers – Right to Left, John Thompson, Steve Ovett OBE, Ross Eason and Geoff Campbell reached Owers' Corner – their final destination after a nine-day trek along the Kokoda Trail.
DCP_0151.JPGSteve competed in three Olympics, bagging a gold medal in the 800m and a bronze in the 1500 at the 1980 games in Moscow. Five years on Steve had established himself as one of the World's best in the 1,500 meters and in the mile. Between 1977 – 80 he won 45 successive races at those distances.
His final major championship appearance was 10th in the 1987 World 5000m and it was in the same year he was nominated BBC Sports Personality of the Year. After this Steve settled in Scotland and because of his popularity was offered a job as a commentator on athletics for the IAAF.
Steve is currently a host to World Track and Field Championships on CBC Sports. Classified as one of the great Olympians, Steve who was the pride of Great Britain in his Olympian glory days is downright friendly, kindhearted and a loveable very down-to-earth person who has an undying love for sports ? especially athletics.
Steve, during his Olympian glory days
Steve_Ovett_salutes_300the_.jpgOf course, he won't talk about it publicly but the athletics hero has been involved in many charity activities back in England and even now in Australia. For those who knew him personally, Steve is a kind person who loves helping people.
The walk from Kokoda station where we started our trek along the Kokoda Trail back to Port Moresby ? Owers' Corner, was a great experience for Steve and his teammates and they couldn't have done it without the help of the porters and guides whose trekking skills saw us safely home.
A day's easy- trekking up the Sogeri plateau before he headed out for the mighty Kokoda Trail. This picture was taken at Crystal Rapids
Steve_Ovett.jpgNot only was he privileged to enjoy the beautiful sites of Kokoda but the former Olympian was also fortunate to meet some very interesting people – who like himself are heroes in their own ways.
Steve's interesting meetings started on the first day when we arrive at Kokoda station. He met the Local Level Government Councillor, Ori Levi who also happened to be a former PNG long distance runner. Ori had totally amazed the former star of Great Britain by giving surprising details of being an athlete representing PNG in one of the athletics event during the Commonwealth Games, where Steve was also a part of.
Of course they never met personally, but Ori said he remembered Steve so well because of his popularity.
Fists-up for Steve and former PNG long distance runner of Commonwealth Games, Ori Levi. Gone are those days and here they are now in 2003.
Steve_and_Ori.jpgMeeting Osborne Obajiwai the man, who made history in 1986, by running the whole length of Kokoda Trail in an unbelievable time of 28 hours, 14 minutes and 30 seconds was probably the main highlights in Steve's visit. Osborne Obajiwai, originally from Ioma was only 20.
These local heroes, unlike Steve are unspoken of. But the England great middle-distance runner had so much admiration for these people.
Another humbling experience was the traditional welcome at the Kokoda Station by the local dancers with beautiful headdresses and traditional gears. The mighty Steve was speechless and when he was finally invited to give his speech he stated: 'There was nowhere in the world I went to and got such a welcome. This is truly special for me and I thank everyone for such a wonderful effort,' he said.
A traditional welcome for Steve at the Kokoda station
_LWF0037.jpgSteve's visit has indeed paid off well because the whole Kokoda station, are now working towards building an athletics club. In doing so they are encouraging young athletes to take part in the event.
The time has certainly come to pass, Steve was here in PNG and has walked the Kokoda Trail
Ends//
Left to Right, Ross Eason, Steve Ovett OBE & John Thompson at the monument in Sogeri
Monument.jpgRussell Eroro received a wonderful surprise after the team left for Australia when I turned up on his doorstep and handed to him Steve Ovett's walking sticks that he used out on the Kokoda Trail.
He was just so thrilled and so proud that he said they will stay with his family in Kokoda FOREVER.
On the following Wednesday when he turned up at the airport to see his porters on the flight back to Kokoda, the walking sticks were heading back to Kokoda to his family home with instructions for his wife and children. Russell stayed back to supervise the cleaning of all backpacks etc and returns tomorrow Sunday 12th October, 2003.
His comments to me at the time were: When I get back to Kokoda, I will make them a gift for my son who I am hoping will take over from me one day taking trekkers along the Kokoda Trail. It will be my son's responsibility to honour and take care of Steve's walking sticks
Thanks to Steve Ovett for giving Russell and his family a keepsake that they will cherish FOREVER! as will the memory of his visit to Kokoda Township be everlasting in their memories.
Russell Eroro is the guy in front of his porters proudly displaying Steve's walking sticks, wearing the white Bloomhill T/Shirt given to him by John Thompson. He seems to love this t/shirt coz two days in a row I saw him wearing it around the streets of Port Moresby:
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