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Wanyonyi credited David Rudisha's advice the very day before the final for his 800m gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Emmanuel Wanyonyi continued Kenya’s proud Olympic tradition in the men’s 800m by clinching the gold medal in a thrilling final at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Saturday night.
The 20-year-old’s victory ensured that Kenya retained the Olympic title for the fifth consecutive Games, following in the footsteps of legendary runners like Wilfred Bungei, David Rudisha, and Emmanuel Korir.
Wanyonyi faced a formidable field in the final, including Canada’s Marco Arop, who secured the silver medal, and Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati, who had been unbeaten this year but had to settle for bronze.
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13:00 - 11.08.2024
Kenya's youngest millionaire? What 20-year-old Emmanuel Wanyonyi will earn from Paris Olympics heroics
Emmanuel Wanyonyi, 20, will walk to the bank smiling after reaping millions from his win in the men's 800m final at the Paris Olympics.
Wanyonyi’s victory was not only a testament to his talent but also a strategic masterclass, heavily influenced by a conversation he had with two-time Olympic gold medallist David Rudisha.
In the aftermath of his victory, Wanyonyi revealed that Rudisha’s advice was instrumental in shaping his race strategy.
“It was going to be hard to defend as the only Kenyan in the final. I had a lot of pressure. I spoke to David Rudisha yesterday, who told me I would win if I employed my tactics. I decided to run the way he did in London. If I had run a slow race, they would have beaten me,” Wanyonyi shared.
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11:00 - 11.08.2024
Emmanuel Wanyonyi explains how he beat Marco Arop & Djamel Sedjati to become third fastest man in 800m history
Emmanuel Wanyonyi won Olympic gold in the 800m becoming history's third-fastest runner after outpacing rivals Arop and Sedjati in Paris.
Taking control of the race from the start, Wanyonyi led the pack with confidence and determination, never relinquishing his lead even as Arop attempted a final push.
Wanyonyi’s aggressive approach mirrored Rudisha’s iconic front-running style, which famously secured gold for Kenya in London 2012 and Rio 2016.
“He told me I had to defend this title, which gave me a lot of pressure, so to manage to get it over the line, I thank God,” Wanyonyi added, acknowledging the weight of expectations on his shoulders as the sole Kenyan representative in the final.
When asked about his ambitions to break Rudisha’s world record of 1:40.91, set at the London 2012 Olympics, Wanyonyi humbly responded, “Maybe, but not now.”
Wanyonyi’s victory is not just a personal achievement but a continuation of Kenya’s dominance in the 800m event at the Olympics. The gold in Paris is the only medal won by Kenya’s men’s team at the Games, underscoring the significance of Wanyonyi’s triumph.
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14:00 - 11.08.2024
Georgia Bell on how watching Faith Kipyegon winning in Tokyo from her couch at home fueled her journey to claim a medal in Paris
Bell quit athletics in 2017, but reversed her decision in 2021 after she watched Faith Kipyegon dominating the 1500 meters at the Tokyo Olympics.
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