Front-running Rudisha to stay true to his tradition in Beijing

Ferguson Rotich (left) raises his hands in jubilation after crossing the finishing line ahead of world 800m record-holder David Rudisha during the final of the World Athletics Championship and Africa Games trials on August 1, 2015 at the Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Olympic champion to come face to face with Botswana’s Amos in two-lap race
  • World 800m record-holder happy with current form, vows to continue attack in 2015 World Championships
  • Rudisha will be seeking to win his second medal in the World championships. He won gold in the 2011 edition held in Daegu, Korea.
  • He did not take part in the 2013 edition in Moscow because of an injury.
  • He also bettered meet records by greats like Sebastian Coe of Britain.

World 800 metres record-holder David Rudisha is happy with his improved shape ahead of the World Championships in Athletics that start in Beijing in a week’s time.

The front-running Olympics champion said he had rediscovered his powerful attack on the two-lap event during the two-week training camp at Kasarani stadium.

“I have already picked up power. It is not that I did not have power but it had not been activated,” the 2010 IAAF Athlete of the Year award winner said. He spoke on Saturday after the morning training.

He said initially his body was not responding to training regime but he has since gained form. He said presence of big names like Nijel Amos (Botswana), Amel Tuka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Ayanleh Souleiman (Djibouti) and himself will make the event very interesting in Beijing.

Rudisha said since each of the four athletes has tasted defeat this season, nobody will have king tag at the starting line-up in China.

“This is sport and when you have different people winning, it makes competition more interesting and more open which is good for everybody,” Rudisha, who set the World record of 1min,40.91sec at the 2012 London Olympic Games, said.

He said each of the runners in 800m will be praying that God be on their side on that day.

Rudisha will be seeking to win his second medal in the World championships. He won gold in the 2011 edition held in Daegu, Korea.

He did not take part in the 2013 edition in Moscow because of an injury. During his athletics career, he has won five gold medals from 2012 Olympics, 2011 Daegu World Championships, 2008 and 2010 Africa Championships in Addis Ababa and Nairobi respectively and 2010 Continental Cup. He also claimed silver at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

BETTERED RECORDS

He has also ran explosive speeds that have erased records and best times set by other 800m great runners such the Africa record of 1:42.28 by Sammy Koskei which had stood for 25 years. Rudisha erased the record by running 1:42.01 at the Italy Grand Prix in 2009.

He also bettered meet records by greats like Sebastian Coe of Britain. Coe is among candidates seeking to be elected IAAF president during the Beijing championships to take over from the retiring Lamine Diack of Senegal.