Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi clinched the gold medal in the men’s 800m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, thanks to some sage advice from the legendary David Rudisha.
The 20-year-old athlete revealed that a crucial conversation with the two-time Olympic champion helped shape his strategy, leading him to victory in a fiercely competitive race.
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“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 stated.
Wanyonyi credited his success to invaluable advice from David Rudisha, the two-time Olympic champion, who suggested he adopt a front-running strategy similar to Rudisha’s famous races.
Rudisha, who transformed the 800m from a tactical game of cat and mouse into a prolonged sprint, shared insights that proved crucial for Wanyonyi.
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Rudisha’s approach to the event was showcased to devastating effect at the London 2012 Olympics, where he shattered his own world record to claim gold, and again in Rio 2016, where he became the first runner in 50 years since Peter Snell to retain the Olympic title in the 800m.
Facing a highly competitive field, Wanyonyi demonstrated strategic brilliance and tenacity.
He took the lead early in the race and maintained his position throughout, crossing the finish line ahead of Marco Arop from Canada, who took the silver, and Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati, who had to settle for bronze despite being unbeaten this year until the final.
Reflecting on his win, Wanyonyi acknowledged the pressure and difficulty of the race, particularly the challenge posed by Sedjati, but his determination and tactical execution led him to victory.
Wanyonyi’s win continues Kenya’s remarkable legacy in the 800m, securing the nation’s fifth consecutive Olympic gold in the event.
