Emmanuel Wanyonyi opens up on his shared bond with David Rudisha
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 20.08.25. | 12:10
Since Rudisha’s record-breaking run in 2012, no athlete has come closer to threatening the mark than Wanyonyi
Paris Olympics gold medalist Emmanuel Wanyonyi has revealed the deep connection he shares with world 800m record holder David Rudisha, whom he credits as his greatest source of inspiration.
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Speaking in Switzerland ahead of the Lausanne Diamond League, Wanyonyi reflected on how Rudisha’s words and achievements continue to push him to greater heights on the track.
“Rudisha is my friend. Last year, I attended his wedding, and he told me that it was my time to shine. I told him, ‘For the respect I have for you, you managed to run 1:41 seven times.
I’ve done it four times, so I still have time to improve. Now I need to work on my personal best and then think about the world record, but not now,” Wanyonyi said.
The wedding, held on Saturday, 18 January, in Moiben, Uasin Gishu County, brought together a galaxy of athletics stars as Rudisha, the two-time Olympic champion and reigning world record holder, exchanged vows with Dr. Mercy Chumbaa.
Since Rudisha’s record-breaking run in 2012, no athlete has come closer to threatening the mark than Wanyonyi.
The exciting youngster has been in blistering form this season, stringing together world-class performances that have placed him among the 800m elite.
On Thursday, 12 June, he stormed to a world lead of 1:42.78 in Oslo, Norway, before lowering his time to 1:41.95 just three days later in Stockholm.
He went even faster on Friday, 11 July, in Monaco, clocking 1:41.44 to become the 10th fastest 800m runner in history, a performance that fueled speculation about a potential assault on Rudisha’s 1:40.91 world record.
Just days after Monaco, he backed up his performance with a 1:42.00 victory at the London Diamond League, showcasing both consistency and composure.
Earlier in the season, he had settled for third place in Rabat, where Botswana’s Tshepiso Maselela ran a then-world-leading 1:42.69.
His rise mirrors the path of Rudisha, whose dominance in the event remains unmatched. Still, Wanyonyi admitted that the world record is an eventual goal.
But for now, the Paris Olympic champion is taking his hero’s advice and building on his personal bests while keeping an eye on the future.
The men’s 800m in Lausanne promises to be another blockbuster, with Wanyonyi taking on world champion Marco Arop, European champion Gabriel Tual, and world indoor champion Bryce Hoppel.
Kenya will also be well represented in the men’s 5000m, where former world silver medalist Jacob Krop faces a stacked field featuring Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet, Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew, and the USA’s Grant Fisher.
With recent Diamond League races producing sub-12:50 times, the race is expected to deliver fireworks.
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