Three reasons why Rudisha tips Emmanuel Wanyonyi to break his 800m record
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 04.02.25. | 08:49
The 36-year-old, whose career was cut short by injuries, said he would be glad to watch the record being broken in his lifetime.
800-meter world record holder David Rudisha has revealed the three reasons why he believes compatriot Emmanuel Wanyonyi will break his record.
Rudisha holds the 800m world record, which was set at the 2012 London Olympics when he ran a legendary time of 1:40.91.
The newlywed Rudisha’s record has stood for 12 years, and none of the many athletes competing in the event has been able to break it—an indicator of his prowess.
“The record has stood for 12 years, which shows it is not easy to break, but it is imminent,” Rudisha told Nation.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist went on to list the three attributes possessed by Wanyonyi that will help him break the 800m record.
“Wanyonyi ran 1:41.11 last year, equaling Wilson Kipketer’s 1997 mark, and he has the potential because of his speed, endurance, and courage to run in front,” he added.
The 36-year-old, whose career was cut short by injuries, said he would be glad to watch the record being broken in his lifetime.
“I never saw someone break a world record, not even Kipketer, until I broke it myself. It will be thrilling to watch someone break the record while I watch from the stands,” he continued.
Elsewhere, marathon legend Wilfred Bungei also supported Rudisha's sentiments and tipped Wanyonyi to break the record ahead of his chief competitor, Marco Arop of Canada.
Bungei, a winner of the 800m gold medal in the 2008 Olympics, acknowledged the abilities of both Wanyonyi and Arop but placed his bet on the former.
“The fact that Arop has a height advantage over Wanyonyi does count. But Wanyonyi has proven himself with his front-running. Look at how he won the Olympics—he led from the gun to the tape and ran a good time. Both athletes have strengths, but Wanyonyi has the edge,” Bungei told Citizen Digital.
Additionally, Bungei believes that it is only a matter of time before the 800m record is broken.
“It’s possible to break the record. The margins are there, and all indications point to that,” he concluded.
.jpg)
