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Emmanuel Wanyonyi has hinted at when he might be going for the 800m world record.
Reigning Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi is under no pressure to attack David Rudisha’s world record and he has even disclosed when he plans to go for it.
The world record stands at 1:40.91 and was set by David Rudisha at the London 2012 Olympic Games. On his part, Emmanuel Wanyonyi ran the second-fastest time in the 800m, tying with Wilson Kipketer, at the Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne and world record talks have now been flying around.
However, the world 800m silver medallist insisted that the world record is not part of his priorities as he is only chasing a personal best time and world title, he noted that going for it this season would be a plus.
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Wanyonyi did not mention the event nor specific time he would attack the record but noted that he will have to work hard in training and put in extra effort before making the bold decision.
The Kenyan 800m star also revealed his favourite 800m races of the season, noting that it was where he made the greater milestones.
“This year, first were the Olympic Games in Paris, then when I clocked my personal best at Lausanne Diamond League then the third one was winning my trophy at the Diamond League final in Brussels,” Emmanuel Wanyonyi told CGTN.
“I don’t have any pressure to run the world record but maybe it might come. My target is to run my personal best time again. The world record might come but I know I really need to work hard to achieve it because it’s not easy.”
The 2024 season was one for the books for the former world under-20 champion who started off with the Sirikwa Classic cross country, winning the 2km race before also racing at the Kenyan Cross-country Championships.
After that, Emmanuel Wanyonyi made his track debut at the Kip Keino Classic and then went on to win the 5km road race at the adizero Road to Records. He claimed top honours at the Diamond League Meeting in Rabat and extended the hot streak to the Kenyan Olympic trials.
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Wanyonyi then proceeded to win the Diamond League Meeting in Paris before claiming the Olympic title at the Stade de France.
After the Olympics, he still had it in him, winning the Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne, finishing second in Silesia and then later on rounding up his season with a victorious Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels. He hopes for the same this season.
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