David Rudisha

David Lekuta Rudisha, MBS (born 17 December 1988) is a retired Kenyan middle-distance runner who holds the world and Olympic records for the 800 metres. He is the only person to have broken the 1:41 barrier in the event, and his three fastest times ever—each a world record at the moment it was set—remain unmatched. Rudisha won Olympic gold in the 800 m at both the 2012 London Games, where he set the current world record of 1:40.91, and the 2016 Rio Games. He also claimed world titles in 2011 and 2015, and Diamond League championships in 2010 and 2011.

Early life and background

Rudisha grew up in Kilgoris, Narok County, and attended Kimuron Secondary School in Iten. Initially a 400 m runner, he switched to the 800 m under the guidance of Irish coach Colm O’Connell. In 2006, he became world junior champion over the distance.

2012: Olympic gold and new world record

He won African Championships gold in 2008 and 2010, and took silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. He also holds the world best for the 500 m and the African best for the 600 m. In 2010, at age 21, he became the youngest winner of the IAAF World Athlete of the Year award, and he earned three consecutive Track & Field News Athlete of the Year honors.

Early career

Rudisha’s breakthrough came in September 2009, when he ran 1:42.01 in Rieti, Italy—a new African record that broke Sammy Koskei’s 25-year-old mark. In 2010, he twice broke Wilson Kipketer’s world record: first with 1:41.09 in Berlin, then 1:41.01 in Rieti. He also set a meet record of 1:42.04 at the Bislett Games, defeating Abubaker Kaki.

At the 2012 London Olympics, Rudisha led from start to finish, completing the first lap in 49.28 seconds and winning in 1:40.91. The race was hailed as the greatest 800 m ever: all eight runners set personal or season’s bests, with silver medalist Nijel Amos setting a world junior record. Rudisha’s time remains the only sub-1:41 performance in history.

After retiring from competition, Rudisha announced in May 2022 that he would run for election as an independent candidate in Kenya’s Kilgoris Constituency. In March 2024, he served as World Athletics ambassador for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.