A middle distance runner , Coe won the 1500 m gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1980 and 1984 , and set eight outdoor and three indoor world records . A middle distance runner , Coe won four Olympic medals , including the 1500 metres gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1980 and 1984 , and set eight outdoor and three indoor world records in middle distance track events ( and also participated in a world record relay ) .