How Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Co changed 800m in 2024
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 26.12.24. | 19:10
The world record may have remained intact, but the world all-time list has been rewritten
David Rudisha’s legendary world record of 1:40.91 seemed to be living on borrowed time throughout this year and it was compatriot Emmanuel Wanyonyi who led the charge in rewriting the men's 800m in the world.
The world record may have remained intact, but the world all-time list has been rewritten.
Before this year, there had been just 15 sub-1:42 performances in history. That tally now stands at 27, with 12 sub-1:42 runs being achieved this year. Previously, just two men, Rudisha (2010 and 2012) and Wilson Kipketer (1997), had broken 1:42 three times in one season.
Heading into the Olympics, Djamel Sedjati was the fastest man in the world with his 1:41:46 set at the Paris Diamond League, where three men finished inside 1:42 and seven went sub-1:43 – the deepest race in history.
Wanyonyi, who had won the Kenyan Trials with 1:41.70 and then placed second at the Paris Diamond League in 1:41.58, went on to win the Olympic gold in 1:41.19, his third PB of the year. He became the youngest man to win an Olympic 800m title.
World champion Marco Arop was just 0.01 behind, setting a North American record to take silver. Djamel earned bronze, while Bryce Hoppel was fourth in a US record of 1:41.67.
Two weeks after taking Olympic gold, Wanyonyi lowered his PB to a world-leading 1:41.11 in Lausanne to move to joint second on the world all-time list. He concluded his season by winning at the Diamond League Final in Brussels.
The three Olympic medalists all enjoyed an outstanding season, but so too did Hoppel, who upgraded the bronze medal he earned in Belgrade two years ago to win the world indoor title ahead of Elliot Crestan in a world-leading 1:44.92.
Gabriel Tual also excelled this year, setting a French record of 1:41.61 at the Paris Diamond League and winning the European title in Rome.
Wanyonyi, Arop and Sedjati all broke 1:42 three times in one season, a feat only achieved by Rudisha and Wilson. Wanyonyi did so a record four times.
By World Athletics
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