David Rudisha, one of Kenya's most celebrated runners, is currently in Paris showing his support for Team Kenya.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi continued with the Kenyan tradition of winning the men's 800m gold medal at the Olympic Games. Following in the footsteps of Wilfred Bungei (2008), David Rudisha (2012,2016) and Emmanuel Korir (2020).
Running from the front from the start to finish, Wanyonyi fended off stiff competition from Djamel Sedjati and world champion Marco Arop to win Kenya's 5th title in a row. Wanyonyi clocked 1:41.19, the third fastest of all time pulling Arop and Sedjati to cross the line under 1:42. Arop clocked 1:41.20 for silver as Algeria’s Sedjati clocked 1:41.50 for bronze.
“I feel good, I thank God for winning this race, I was the sole Kenyan. It was going to be hard to defend it as the only Kenyan in the final, so I had a lot of pressure. If we were two we could have helped each other.
Kenya has dominated the Men's 800m race at the last five Olympic Games, securing five gold medals. The champions include Wilfred Bungei in 2008, David Rudisha in both 2012 and 2016, Emmanuel Korir in 2020, and Emmanuel Wanyonyi in 2024.
Speaking after the race in Paris, Wanyonyi revealed to the press how he spoke to Rudisha a day before the race , and how the former world champion and record holder advised him to enjoy the race and employ his tactics.
“I decided to run the way he did in London in 2012. He told me to believe in myself and that is what I did. I was expecting Sedjati but he wasn’t’ there. There was Arop but I had some little energy for me to charge. If I ran a slow race they would have beaten me,” Wanyonyi said after the race.
David Rudisha, one of Kenya's most celebrated runners, is currently in Paris showing his support for Team Kenya. Widely regarded as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time, Rudisha is known for his incredible performances in the 800m, including his unforgettable world record-breaking run at the 2012 London Olympics.
Now honorably retired from competitive racing, Rudisha continues to inspire the next generation of athletes with his presence and encouragement. His support in Paris is a significant morale boost for the Kenyan team, as they compete on the world stage, knowing they have a legend in their corner.