Emmanuel Wanyonyi (born 1 August 2004)[2] is a Kenyan middle-distance runner specializing in the 800 metres, who won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in this event. With his personal best of 1:41.19 set in the 2024 Olympic 800m final, Wanyonyi is currently the third fastest man in history at the distance, behind Wilson Kipketer and compatriot David Rudisha, who holds the world record.[3] Wanyonyi also holds the current world record in the road mile, with his time of 3:54.56.[4]
 Wanyonyi at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in the 800 metres final | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Born | August 1, 2004 Kapretwa, Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya |
| Sport | |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event | Middle-distance running |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Highest world ranking | 1st (800m, 2023) [1] |
| Personal bests | 800 m: 1:41.19 (Paris 2024) Road Mile: 3:54.56 WR (Herzogenaurach 2024) |
Career
editAt the age of 18, he placed fourth at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.[5] Wanyonyi won the gold medal at the 2021 World Under-20 Championships, setting a championship record in the process.[6][7]
At the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Wanyonyi finished 2nd to Marco Arop in the 800m, with a time of 1:44.53 while Arop ran 1:44.24.[8]
Wanyonyi broke the world road mile record with a time of 3:54.56 at the adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany, on April 27, 2024. The previous record of 3:56.13 belonged to American athlete Hobbs Kessler, who finished second to Wanyonyi in a time of 3:56.18.[9]
In June 2024, Wanyonyi ran 1:41.70 to win the 800 m at the 2024 Athletics Kenya Olympic Trials, making him then the 3rd-fastest performer ever over 800 metres, behind Wilson Kipketer's 1:41.11 and David Rudisha's world record of 1:40.91.[10][11]
On 7 July 2024, at the Meeting de Paris, Wanyonyi came in second place to Djamel Sedjati in the 800 meters, running a personal best of 1:41.58 while Sedjati ran 1:41.56. At the time, this made Wanyonyi and Sedjati the fourth and third fastest 800 meter runners in history, respectively.[12]
At the 2024 Olympic Games, Wanyonyi made it through the heats and semifinals of the 800m. In the final, he won the gold medal in a time of 1:41.19, surpassing Djamel Sedjati to become the third fastest man in history at the distance, behind only fellow Kenyan David Rudisha and Danish athlete Wilson Kipketer.[13] Only one hundredth of a second behind Wanyonyi was the 2023 800m World Champion Marco Arop, who set a new North, Central American, and Caribbean area record.[14]
Achievements
editCircuit wins
edit- Diamond League
- 2022 (800 m): Rabat Diamond League
- 2023 (800 m): Rabat Diamond League, Paris Diamond League, Xiamen Diamond League
References
edit- ^ https://worldathletics.org/world-rankings/800m/men?regionType=world&page=1&rankDate=2023-12-26
- ^ "Emmanuel WANYONYI | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
- ^ "800 Metres - men - senior - all". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
- ^ "Emmanuel WANYONYI | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
- ^ "Spotlight on Rising Stars: Adriana Vilagos and Emmanuel Wanyonyi". World Athletics. 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
- ^ "Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi wins Gold in men's 800m finals as compatriot Noah Kibet wins bronze". The Standard. 2021-08-22. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
- ^ Joshua, Elvince (2021-08-20). "Emmanuel Wanyonyi: Former herdsman to gold hunter". The Standard. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
- ^ "800 Metres Result | World Athletics Championships, Budapest 2023". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
- ^ "Wanyonyi runs world road mile record in Herzogenaurach".
- ^ Emmanuel Wanyonyi at World Athletics
- ^ "800 Metres - men - senior - all". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
- ^ LetsRun.com (2024-07-06). "2024 Paris Diamond League Results - Meeting De Paris Results". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
- ^ https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/middlelong/800-metres/all/men/senior
- ^ "MEN'S 800M FINAL RESULTS".