Sebastian Coe unveils romance with Diane Alexander at Monaco gala
Olympic legend Sebastian Coe has unveiled his new romance with Diane Alexander, the former wife of pop superstar Lionel Richie, at a glittering ceremony in Monaco, reports BritPanorama.
The World Athletics president, 69, made his red carpet debut with the American model and fashion designer, 58, at the organisation’s annual awards gala on November 30.
Lord Coe appeared visibly delighted, keeping his arm wrapped around Alexander’s waist throughout their first public appearance as a couple. The twice-married former middle-distance runner, who claimed 1500m gold at both the 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, wore a bow tie and a sharp suit for the occasion, while Alexander opted for an elegant black dress.
Alexander was married to Richie for nine years before their union ended in 2004, with the divorce reportedly costing the singer an estimated £15 million. The former couple share two children together: son Miles, 31, and daughter Sofia, 27. Their split was attributed to irreconcilable differences, with court documents revealing their extraordinarily lavish lifestyle, reportedly spending in excess of $300,000 a month during their marriage.
Despite the divorce, Alexander is understood to maintain a positive relationship with the All Night Long hitmaker as they continue to co-parent their children and spend time with their grandchildren. Lord Coe’s own romantic history has not been without turbulence; his first marriage to Nicky McIrvine lasted 12 years and produced four children. Following their separation in 2002, he married journalist Carole Annett in 2011, though that marriage ended in early 2020.
Coe became engaged to Los Angeles-based PR executive Sarah Robarts in recent years, but their engagement lasted only nine months and ended in 2023, with the pair now understood to remain friends. He and Alexander have reportedly been seeing each other for several months, and sources indicate that Lord Coe is taking the relationship very seriously, having chosen to bring Alexander as his guest to a significant professional engagement.
Their appearance in Monaco has sparked speculation that the two-time Olympic champion could be heading towards a third marriage. This development comes after earlier reports suggested Coe had rekindled his romance with Robarts, claims which have since been dismissed as sources insist the former couple are simply friends.
Amid a world where the lines of personal and public are increasingly blurred, Coe’s new romance offers a reminder of how even those at the pinnacle of achievement navigate the complexities of love and life. It reveals that human connections, much like athletic glory, follow unpredictable paths, resonating beyond the finish line.
