David Rudisha's plan to shield athletes from effects of climate change

World 800m record holder David Rudisha is a man on a mission, determined to shield athletes against the diverse effects of climate change.

The 800m great is leading efforts to create awareness and push for cleaner air in sports environments.

“Right now, I’m very concerned about the environment... climate change has greatly affected our athletes, and we want to change that,” Rudisha said.

Athletes rely on their respiratory health to perform at the highest level. However, climate change and air pollution pose significant threats to their well-being.

Sportspeople breathe in large volumes of air during competition and training, putting them at risk of inhaling harmful pollutants, which can lead to pulmonary complications.

“When athletes are running, they breathe in a lot of air, and if it’s not healthy, it can contribute to a lot of pulmonary issues. This greatly affects the athletes, and we want them to compete in a clean environment and breathe clean air,” Rudisha noted.

A groundbreaking study by Brown University, published in Sports Medicine, highlighted the severe effects of air pollution on performance.

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The study analyzed over 2.5 million marathon finishers from major U.S. marathons between 2003 and 2019, revealing that fine particulate matter in the air significantly slowed race times.

Male runners experienced a 32-second delay per 1 µg/m³ increase in pollution, while female runners faced a 25-second delay.

“Think of all the effort a professional runner like Eliud Kipchoge puts into breaking world records. Our results show that those aiming to optimize performance can’t ignore air pollution,” said lead author Elvira Fleury, a doctoral student at Harvard University.

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The study demonstrated that even pollution levels considered safe by current health standards could negatively affect athletes.

If the fittest individuals are suffering from polluted air, the impact on the general population could be even worse.

Recognizing these dangers, Rudisha is calling on the government and stakeholders to take action.

“Well, we are now advocating to the government to encourage and promote clean energy and ensure that air pollution is reduced,” he stated.

Athletics Kenya (AK) has already taken steps to address the issue. In partnership with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), AK implemented air quality monitoring sensors in stadiums and sports facilities across the country.

These sensors help track pollution levels and ensure that athletes train and compete in safer environments.

“At the moment, Athletics Kenya has partnered with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and other organizations passionate about air quality and has implemented air quality monitoring sensors in various locations in the country.

The censors have been placed in stadiums and other sports facilities to ensure athletes train and compete in cleaner environments, but there is much more that can be done,” Rudisha noted.

In February 2024, a collaboration between the County Government of Nandi, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and SEI led to the installation of air quality sensors at the Eliud Kipchoge Stadium.

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Additionally, St. Patrick’s High School in Iten joined over ten other schools in Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda in air quality monitoring efforts.

The data collected from these initiatives has already led to remedial actions, such as developing green belts around sports facilities and encouraging local governments to reduce open waste burning while increasing afforestation efforts.

“Athletes are exposed to this dust and air, and it’s not good for their health. If we don’t have clean air, we don’t get the best performance from our athletes,” Rudisha concluded.