DAY 7: London World Championships Notebook

Amazing times in media race

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Some amazing times were posted in the media 800 metres race at the London Stadium on Thursday, with some journalists running sub-1:55 times! This was a bit unsettling for some of us who were on the start list and who haven’t trained for years. The devastating result was that I had to pull off midway my heat, an aggravated ankle injury my excuse in the post-race interview conducted by former USA’s four-time world long jump champion Dwight Philips. Apologies to my Kenyan fans….

Abramovich's expensive divorce trending

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A lot is being written here about Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s big money divorce. The Russian is said to be separating with his second wife, Dasha Zhukova, with analysts predicting it could be the world’s most expensive divorce. Abramovich, who as a pet dog that costs 950 pounds (Sh130,000) is worth over seven billion pounds (Sh945 billion) with Zhukova expected to walk away with a tidy sum, perhaps not less than a billion shillings (Sh135 billion)!

Singer O’Connor's distress unsettling

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One distressing story doing the rounds is on the condition of Irish singer Sinead O’Connor, one of my favourite artistes of all time. Days after posting a distressing video explaining how she wanted to commit suicide, O’Connor, who is suffering from bipolar disorder, is said to be recovering in a New Jersey hospital where she was admitted for mental care. The star is famous for her 1990 rendition of the song, Nothing compares to you, originally sung by Prince.

News of Sum’s withdrawal mismanaged

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I received disturbing reports Thursday that former world 800 metres champion Eunice Sum was chastised for telling the Daily Nation truthfully that she won’t be able to run in the heats as she was unwell. After we broke the story, Sum was under pressure to deny the report. Which didn’t make sense at all because, after all, Sum not being on the start list would have raised questions, anyway!