Rudisha: I’m firmly on road to recovery

David Rudisha says he’s happy with Thursday’s surgery on his fractured ankle.

The two-time Olympic 800 metres champion was on Saturday discharged from St Luke’s Hospital in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, after the successful surgery.

Rudisha, who has been training in Iten, Eldoret and Kilgoris in Narok County, was preparing for his comeback ahead of the Olympics Games in Tokyo.

The Games were postponed to next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The champion picked an injury during a walk in his compound in Narok County after stepping on uneven ground.

He went on with training which caused further harm on his ankle forcing him to visit the hospital where the fracture was detected and successful surgery done by Dr. Victor Bargoria.

Bargoria said he said Rudisha suffered a “Supination-External Rotation” which he fixed with a 1/3 tubular plate and 3.5 millimeter screws.

Talking to Nation Sport from his hospital bed on Saturday, Rudisha said that he was happy the surgery went on well and that he will be recovering at home after being discharged.

“I’m doing well and will be leaving the hospital today (Saturday). I would just ask Kenyans and my fans to continue praying for me. I’m in good condition and on the path to recovery now,” said Rudisha.

According to Bargoria, the surgery took two hours with the help of Dr. Geoffrey Korir,  medical officer Janet Khayange, two nurses and a team from the x-ray department.

“The surgery went on well and it took exactly two hours. I must thank the professional medics that I was working with who made the process easier.

“That shows that we are able to handle such surgeries here in Eldoret and this is a plus for us,” said Bargoria.

The doctor also said that he is happy Rudisha’s team had confidence in him and the other medics, urging the public to also trust the Kenyan medical system.

“I’m happy because Rudisha’s team were confident that we would deliver and the public should always trust on the system that’s on the ground for goo results,” added Bargoria.

Rudisha will recover from home and after six weeks he will be able to get into rehabilitation when the tissues will have healed. “In six weeks he should start the rehabilitation process and we shall be there with my team to make sure it goes on well because he also needs to do his normal life activities,” said the doctor, who also handles Kenya’s Olympic team.

During the 2012 games in London, Rudisha stopped the clock in one minute, 40.91 seconds, breaking the world record time previously held by Kenya-born Dane Wilson Kipketer at 1:41.11.

On Saturday, Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei said he was able to follow the whole process after Rudisha was hospitalised and was happy the surgery was successful.

“I’m happy that the surgery went on well and I would like to wish Rudisha quick recovery because he has been training well preparing to comeback in the Olympics Games where he was to defend his title in the 800m,” Tuwei said.