Coe is still regarded as one of the finest middle distance runners of his or any other generation and is well-placed, as a former Olympic champion, to judge the Jamaican's mood and demeanour.

"I never thought he would lose that race," Coe said.

"He simply knew too much.

"You only needed to look at how he came out of that semi-final.

"I just sensed the difference between winning and losing."

Asked to explain what he meant, Coe went on: "It's the way you control yourself in that environment for the last 40 minutes.

"He did that to perfection."

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