His name gave rise to a whole new sporting term, used to describe the on-air gaffes made by sports commentators.

Today his family confirmed that the sports broadcaster died, aged 87.

Some examples of the verbal gaffes made by David Coleman, include: "He is one of the great unknown champions because very little is known about him."

"We estimate, and this isn't an estimation, that Greta Waitz is 80 seconds behind."

"He is accelerating all the time. The last lap was run in 64 seconds and the one before in 62."

"And the line-up for the final of the women's 400 metres hurdles includes three Russians, two East Germans, a Pole, a Swede and a Frenchman."

"The Republic of China: back in the Olympic Games for the first time."

"That's the fastest time ever run, but it's not as fast as the world record."

"There is a fine line between serendipity and stalking."

His association with these verbal slips is so strong that he is often mistakenly credited for the earliest example specifically referenced as a Colemanball, which was said of Cuban double gold medallist Alberto Juantorena at the 1976 Montreal Olympics: "and there goes Juantorena down the back straight, opening his legs and showing his class."

The line was actually said by fellow BBC commentator Ron Pickering.