David Lekuta Rudisha, MBS (born 17 December 1988)[3] is a retired Kenyan middle-distance runner who is the world and Olympic record holder in the 800 metres. Rudisha won gold medals in the 800 m at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympic Games, where, at the former, he set the world record in the event with a time of 1:40.91. He is also a two-time World champion (2011 and 2015) and two-time Diamond League champion (2010 and 2011) in the 800 m. Rudisha is the first and only person to ever run 800 m under 1:41, and he holds the three fastest times ever run in this event, each being a world record when set.[4]
Born on 17 December 1988 in Kilgoris, Narok County, Rudisha went to Kimuron Secondary School in Iten, Keiyo District. In April 2005, whilst under Brother Colm's tutelage, Japheth Kimutai, who was trained by Colm, recommended Rudisha to James Templeton, and Rudisha joined the group of runners managed by Templeton, which has at various time included Kimutai, Bernard Lagat and Augustine Choge.[7] Initially he was the 400 metres runner, but his coach, Irishman Colm O'Connell, prompted him to try the 800 metres. In 2006, he became the world junior champion over that distance.[8]
In the 2010 Diamond League, he took on Abubaker Kaki at the Bislett Games in June. He defeated Sebastian Coe's 31-year-old meet record with a run of 1:42.04, giving him another place in the top-ten fastest ever 800m and leaving Kaki the consolation of the fastest ever non-winning time.[10] On 10 July, Rudisha ran the 800m in 1:41.51 at the KBC Night of Athletics in Heusden, Belgium; this new personal record placed him No. 2 all-time in the world for the 800m.[11]
On 22 August, Rudisha broke Wilson Kipketer's 800m world record two days before the anniversary of that record with a time of 1:41.09 while racing in the ISTAF Berlin meeting in Germany. Just a week later, he broke the record again at the IAAF World Challenge meeting in Rieti, lowering it to 1:41.01. Rudisha recorded four victories on the Diamond League circuit that year to take his first 800m Diamond Trophy.[3] In November, at the age of 21, he became the youngest ever athlete to win the IAAFWorld Athlete of the Year award. He was also crowned Kenyan Sportsman of the Year.[12]
Rudisha claimed his first senior global title at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics held in Daegu, South Korea, winning 800m event with a time 1:43.91. He triumphed also in three Diamond League races that season to secure his second consecutive overall 800m Diamond Race title.[3]
Olympics double
With a time of 1:41.74, Rudisha set the United States all comers 800m record at the 2012 adidas Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium in New York City.[13] He guaranteed his selection for the Kenyan Olympic team for the first time with a win at the Kenyan trials, running a time of 1:42.12 minutes—the fastest ever recorded at altitude.[14]
On 9 August 2012 at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Rudisha led from start to finish to win gold in what was acclaimed "The Greatest 800 Meter Race Ever".[15] In so doing, he became the first and, so far, only runner to break the 1:41 barrier for 800m.[16] From the start of the final race, Rudisha led and pulled away from the rest of the field after 200 metres, completing the first lap in 49.28 seconds. By 600 metres his lead had grown to several metres. He continued to pull away until the final straight, where second place Nijel Amos was able to slightly gain some ground as Rudisha strained. But the gap was much too great to close, and Rudisha crossed the line in a world-record time of 1:40.91.
Rudisha's competitors all ran exceptional times. Sports Illustrated's David Epstein reported that the race "is best told, perhaps, in 16 letters: WR, NR, PB, PB, PB, NR, SB, PB." (That is to say that the participants broke world record, national record, personal bests, national record, season best, personal best)[17] The silver medallist, Amos, had to be carried from the track on a stretcher after setting the world junior record, making him only the fifth man in history to run under 1:42,[18] something Rudisha has now done seven times.[19] "With Rudisha breaking 1:41, two men under 1:42, five under 1:43 and all eight under 1:44," noted the IAAF, "it was the greatest depth 800m race in history."[20] Every competitor ran the fastest time in history for their placing.[16] It was the first time in international 800m history where every competitor ran either a personal or season's best.[21] The time set by the eighth-placed Andrew Osagie, a personal best of 1:43.77, would have won gold at the three preceding Olympic games in Beijing, Athens and Sydney.[22][23]
As well as being the first man to go below 1:41, he broke his own world record that was set in 2010. "The splits triggered amazement: 23.4 secs for the first 200 m, 25.88 secs for the second, a critical 25.02 for the third and 26.61 to bring it all home."[24] Rudisha's record was considered especially notable for the absence of pacemakers,[25] which are not permitted at the Olympics or other major championships. The previous person to win an Olympic 800m final with a world record was Alberto Juantorena, back in 1976.[20] Rudisha also became the first reigning 800m world champion to win Olympic gold at that distance.[25]Sebastian Coe, of the London Olympics organising committee who himself held the 800m world record for 17 years, said: "It was the performance of the Games, not just of track and field but of the Games".[26] He added: "Bolt was good, Rudisha was magnificent. That is quite a big call but it was the most extraordinary piece of running I have probably ever seen."[27] Rudisha had been in good shape coming into the race, having "clocked a staggering 1:42.12 minutes at high altitude in Nairobi during the Kenyan Olympic trials. After that he had said 'the race was nice and easy'."[20]
Before the race, Rudisha had joked about his father's 1968 400m relay silver medal: "It would be good for me to win gold, so we can have gold and silver in our family [...] so I can tell him, 'I am better than you.'"[18] Afterwards, he admitted that it would go down as the greatest 800m race personally for him as well because he won it in front of Sebastian Coe who held the record for more than 17 years. This race was also touted as a run for his community and tribe.[28] Rudisha was later given the Association of National Olympic Committees Award for Best Male Athlete of London 2012,[29] as well as receiving the honour of Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) from the government of Kenya.[30]
Rudisha at the 2010 ISTAF Berlin where he set his first world record
Rudisha could not compete at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics because of an injury.[31] At the New York IAAF Diamond League meeting in June 2015, Rudisha won the 800m with a time of 1:43.58.[32] Rudisha claimed his second world 800m title at the World Championships held in Beijing, China. In a relatively tactical race, after a first lap of only 54.17 he won in a time of 1:45.84[33]
Rudisha successfully defended his Olympic title at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, taking gold with a time of 1:42.15. He was the first person since Peter Snell in 1964 to win back-to-back Olympic 800m titles.[34][35] The final went out very quickly with fellow Kenyan Alfred Kipketer leading through 200m in 23.2 sec. Rudisha was tucked in close behind through a 49.3 first 400m. With just under 300m to go Rudisha made a strong surge to the front. A large gap was formed that proved too much for fast closing Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria in the final homestretch.[36] His finishing time was the fastest he has run since the 2012 Olympic final in London, as well as the fastest time in the world for 2016.[37]
Later career: accidents and retirement
Rudisha finished fourth at the Shanghai Diamond League meet. His time was 1:45.36.[38] The winning time was 1:44.70.[39] He attempted the 1000 metres for the first time at the Golden Spike Ostrava, finishing fourth with a personal best time of 2:19.43.[40] In 2019, Rudisha's car collided head-on with a bus near Keroka. The collision was frontal, but the athlete was not seriously injured.[41]
Rudisha's plan to defend his title at Tokyo 2020 was frustrated by injuries, preventing him from becoming the first man to win three consecutive Olympic titles.[42] In December 2022, he was one of five people who survived a plane crash-landing in Kenya.[43][44]
Coaching
At the 2012 Olympics, Rudisha worked with Caroline Currid, an Irish mental performance coach, on how to maximise performance on competition day.[45][46][47][48][49]
From 2007 until at least 2012, Rudisha trained in the summer months in the university town of Tübingen in southern Germany, a center for many up-and-coming runners from Kenya such as Bernard Lagat.[50]
Personal life
Rudisha is a member of the Maasai ethnic group in Kenya.[8] His father, Daniel Rudisha, was a former runner who won the silver medal at the 1968 Olympics as part of the Kenyan 4 × 400m relay team, while his mother Naomi is a former 400m hurdler.[51] He is married to Lizzy Naanyu and has two daughters (as of 2015).[51]Tom Fordyce of the BBC said of him, "He is the greatest 800m runner of all time and he may also be the nicest man in his sport."[34]
As of 25 September 2024, Rudisha holds the following thirteen track, or facility, records for 800 metres; that is, the fastest time ever recorded in the event in that track's history.
The 800 metres, or 800 meters, is a common track running event. It is the shortest commonly run middle-distance running event. The 800 metres is run over two laps of an outdoor (400-metre) track and has been an Olympic event since the first modern games in 1896. During the winter track season the event is usually run by completing four laps of an indoor 200-metre track.
Wilson Kosgei Kipketer is a Danish former middle distance runner. With a personal best of 1:41.11, Kipketer is tied with Emmanuel Wanyonyi as the second fastest of all time over the 800 meter distance, behind David Rudisha. Kipketer set the world record and broke his own record two more times, all in 1997. He dominated the 800 m distance for a decade, remaining undefeated for a three-year period and running 8 of the 17 currently all-time fastest times. He won gold medals in three successive editions of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics. Though unable to compete in the 1996 Olympics near the peak of his career, he earned silver in 2000 and bronze in 2004. Kipketer's 800 meters world record stood for almost 13 years. It was surpassed on 22 August 2010, when David Rudisha beat it by 0.02 seconds, running 1:41.09. Kipketer still currently holds the indoor world record for the 800 metres.
Alfred Kirwa Yego is a Kenyan middle-distance runner who specializes in the 800 metres. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the 800 m at the 2007 World Championships.
Sammy Koskei is a former Kenyan middle distance runner who specialized in the 800 metres.
Abubaker Kaki Khamis is a Sudanese runner who specializes in the 800 metres. He is a two-time World Indoor Champion over the distance and also won gold at the 2007 All-Africa Games. He represented Sudan at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. He is a member of the Messiria ethnic minority.
The men's 800 metres competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, was held at the Olympic Stadium on 6–9 August. Fifty-five athletes from 43 nations competed. The event was won in a world record time of 1:40:91 by David Rudisha of Kenya, the second consecutive and fourth overall title for Kenya in the event. Rudisha would later become the fourth man to successfully defend his Olympic 800 metres title, and the 11th to win two medals of any kind in the event. Nijel Amos' silver medal was the first Olympic medal ever for Botswana. Timothy Kitum of Kenya won the bronze medal.
Kenya competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's thirteenth appearance at the Olympics, they did not participate in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow because of the African and United States boycott.
Mohammed Aman Geleto is an Ethiopian middle-distance runner. Born in Asella, he is the winner of the 800-meter final at the 2013 World Athletics Championships in the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow. Aman also won consecutive 800 m titles at the 2009 and 2011 African Junior Athletics Championships.
Nixon Kiplimo Chepseba is a Kenyan middle-distance runner (1.84m) who specializes in the 1500 metres. He was the 2011 Diamond League series winner of that event and has a personal best of 3:29.90 minutes.
Nijel Carlos Amilfitano Amos is a Botswana middle-distance runner who competes in the 800 metres. He won the silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics, which was Botswana's first-ever Olympic medal. Amos claimed gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 All-Africa Games. At the African Championships in Athletics, he took golds in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Pierre-Ambroise Bosse is a retired French middle-distance runner. He won a gold medal in the 800 metres at the 2017 World Athletics Championship. Bosse set the French national record for the 800 m in 2014, with his time of 1.42.53.
Taoufik Makhloufi is an Algerian athlete who specialises in middle-distance running. He became the 1500 metres Olympic champion at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England. In 2016, Makhloufi took the silver medal in the 800m and 1500 m at the Summer Olympics in Rio, Brazil.
Abraham Kipchirchir Rotich is a Kenyan-born Bahraini middle-distance runner. Rotich won the 800 metres at the 2012 Diamond League meeting in Monaco.
Amel Tuka is a Bosnian middle-distance runner who competes in the 800 metres. His achievements include a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships as well as a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships. Tuka holds national records in the 400 m and 800 m disciplines.
Mark English is an Irish middle-distance runner.
The men's 800 metres event at the 2016 Summer Olympics took place between 12–15 August at the Olympic Stadium. Fifty-eight athletes from 39 nations competed. The event was won by 0.46 seconds by David Rudisha of Kenya, the fourth man to successfully defend Olympic gold in the 800 metres. Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria took silver, the first medal for the nation in the 800 metres since 2000. The United States had an even longer medal-less streak broken, as Clayton Murphy's bronze was their first since 1992.
The men's 800 metres at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Beijing National Stadium on 22, 23 and 25 August.
Kipyegon Bett was a Kenyan middle-distance runner specialising in the 800 metres. Bett won the 800 metres at the 2016 World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. He also came second in the 800 metres at the 2015 World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia. In the second meet of the 2017 IAAF Diamond League in Shanghai, Bett won the 800 m event in 1:44.70.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi is a Kenyan middle-distance runner specializing in the 800 metres, who won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in this event. With his personal best of 1:41.11 set at the 2024 Lausanne Diamond League, Wanyonyi and Wilson Kipketer are tied for second place in the all-time 800 meter list, behind only Wanyonyi's compatriot David Rudisha, who holds the world record. Wanyonyi also briefly held the world record in the road mile, with a time of 3:54.56, from April 2024 to September 2024.
References
1 2 Although, this was a road race and the course was slightly downhill for the first 100m.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
