Kenyans laud Rudisha's feat

The usually quiet Nairobi mid-week night stirred to life when David Rudisha broke the 800 metres world record at the London Olympics on Thursday night.

Shouts of celebrations and cheers filled the air minutes before 10pm when he bagged the second gold medal for Kenya.

Rudisha, whose erstwhile best time was 1:41.01, said earlier in the week that he would try to reduce it. And he did in in style setting a new record of 1:40:91.

Botswana’s Nijel Amos got the silver medal while another Kenyan, Timothy Kitum, claimed the bronze medal.

Beauty queen Emma Too on her twitter handle ‏@Emma999Too said: “Now that a young Kenyan has made Kenya proud, can leadership be also shared with the young. #Kenya #Rudisha.”

Pernille Bærendtsen on ‏@Dunia_Duara said she had avoided watching the Olympics till watching Rudisha win 800 m race: “Hongera sana, Kenya!”

While Fred kennedy ‏@fredymorgan81 said: “#Rudisha was competing to break his own world record, less did he know he was going to get a gold medal too.”

Kenyans on Facebook also had their share of the celebrations.

Scotch Alich shared a picture of Rudisha standing by the stadium time board and posted: “Yes and he is Kenyan lol that makes me the proudest of them all lol i can't stop smilling xxxxxxxx.”

Pheone Odero on Facebook posted: “Rudisha you have done us proud. Kitum good stuff. New world record and the 800 metres is an African affair.”

The gold improved Kenya’s ranking in the medals table to position 24. Kenya now boasts of a total of 7 medals.