The former head of the Marathon world record invited the former rivals to see the statue from behind “because they would collect it better that way.”
Steve Jones won many honors during his world record athletics career, but from them he could have surpassed at the time he had presented a statue of himself that is now proudly found in his hometown or Ebbw Vale.
The man who dominated the marathon in a global internship in the mid -1980s, winning in Chicago twice and in London, became a man free from Blaenau Gwent county at the beginning of the year and has now dedicated Himbw to the thus.
They came everywhere on Friday (September 12) to join the special celebration, with many of the old enemies of Jones and the international teams that congregate to congratulate him for his last. There was an IMPOMPTU meeting of five of the 1984 British Olympic team, since Jones joined Jones, Tim Hutchings, Geoff Smith, Steve Barry and Nick Rose.
Steve Binns joined the celebration, along with Dave Bedford, and a large number of former Jones Harriers and the Welsh team Mats-Dale Rixon, Ieuan Ellis, Kenny Davies, Nigel Adams, Adrian Brown, as well as his former coach, Mike Rowland.
It was an occasion that left Jones, who has lived in Boulder, Colorado, during the last 35 years, really humiliated.
“It is a great honor for me to be remembered in this way in a city that has always meant me.
“When the statue project was first raised, it was sure or not, it would happen, but now I am here, it is almost surreal.
“It is always lovely to return home, but this time it was very special. I can’t believe that the people of Blaenau Gwent are doing this for me, and all because I did a little race.”
The statue has been for seven years in planning since the day Lee Aherne, president of the Parc Bryn Bach Running Club, put the idea for the first time to the local council. In all, with the help of Cllr Sue Edmunds, the dream came true and the statue is now proudly outside the entrance to the leisure center of Vale Ebbw.
COVID initially slowed things, but the association between the Blaenau Gwent council, the Running Club Parc Bryn Bach and the Leisure Trust aneuryin, with the support of the crowdfunding and the shared of the United Kingdom government, possibly
“Steve is a Welsh sports icon and deserves every praise that comes.
Jones first launched his career as a cadet in the Ebbw air training body is worth when he was 16 years old. From those first steps, the tasks in a Cross Country race were born one of the best sports races of any Welsh athlete.
Already included in the ‘Roll of Honor’ of the Welsh Sports Hall, a member of the Colorado and New York Hall of Fame, the Boulder Sports Hall of Fame and is a former winner of the Welsh sports personality of the year, Jones Lisme Lishing is now that he saw time in time in the time of 1984 Marathon in the fastest in the time he saw time in time in the time of 1984 in the world of the house. 2:08:05.
He would go faster a year later, 2:07:13, when he reached a second of the last world record established by Carlos Lopes de Portugal, and Hey broke the world record in half marathon. That time it was the British record for 33 years until Mo Farah lowered it to 2:06:21.
“Steve is a true legend whose history captures the very soul of Blaenau Gwent. From the streets of Ebbw it is worth to the global stage, his trip is extraordinary,” said Cllr Edmunds.
“His humility, just before the success of the world record rupture, says a lot about the strength of his character. Steve is not just an icon of us, one of us.
“Their achievements continue to inspire generations, demonstrating that, with value, passion and perseverance, greatness is within reach. Its statue is statue as a powerful symbol of what is possible and reminds us that anywhere and belief in yourself.”
“Each career director of the world loved Steve Jones in his marathon field and we were delighted when he arrived in London in 1985 and had a great with Charlie Spedding,” Bedford said. “His winning time was a course record that remained until 1997.
“I am so delighted that it is honest in this way in its hometown. He was a world -class athlete who was not only very loved and respected in his local community, but by athletes around the world.”
Hutchings said: “It was as hard as the nails and I love the fact that it was Ebbw Vale, that the World Manufacture Center was virtual. And now it is literally made of steel in the statue.
“It was as hard as steel to compete. The things he achieved to become the fastest marathon corridor of all time is incredible.
“Now there are one billion runners on the planet, so if you are a world record holder, you are quite special.”
After the presentation, Jones invited all the audience runners, “apart from Dave Bedford”, to come behind and take a look because he felt they would recognize him better from behind.
