Save for laterTell them, he whispered, that familiar soft timbre gaining urgency and strength. Tell them! David Rudisha is back!
It was the night before the Olympic 800m final, and the world’s greatest middle distance runner had a message for his nation. After three years of frustration and only occasional elation following keyhole surgery on a serious knee injury, that old unmistakable tingle had returned. And he was ready to show it
The journalist, a trusted confidante, was surprised: since 2012 Rudisha has always been cautious about his prospects before a major race. Now his tune couldn’t be more upbeat. She dutifully wrote up his words and Kenya devoured them. When the 800m final began just before 5am Kenyan time, Nairobi was alive. And so, emphatically, was Rudisha.
With 250m remaining he kicked clear, establishing a decisive lead in a few strides before storming away to win in 1:42.16 – his fastest time since he simultaneously won London 2012 gold, smashed his own world record, and produced what Sebastian Coe later trumpeted as the moment of those Games
In Rudisha’s mind, though, his performance on a stormy night in Rio was even better. “The feeling in my body was good,” he said, smiling. “It is great to win my second gold. It’s so great. I am so excited. It is the greatest moment of my career.”
Incredibly it made him the first Kenyan to retain an Olympic title. It was just a shame that the stadium was only a quarter full to see it.
Silver was taken by the Algerian Taflouki Makhloufi, the 1500m Olympic champion in London, who surpassed his personal best by nearly a second in chasing Rudisha home in 1:42.61. Third – to everyone’s surprise, including his own – was Clayton Murphy, a 21-year-old farm boy from New Paris, Ohio, who announced his arrival on the world’s stage by running 1:42.91. Before his track career, Murphy used to show pigs at agricultural fairs.
His father, Mark, believes he is a “just as good a pig salesman as he is a runner”, and wanted him to become a basketball or soccer player. That Murphy chose track suggests he has a smart head with his sharp legs
“All I know is I broke 1:43 and I’m an Olympic bronze medalist,” said Murphy, incredulously. “When you’re racing for a medal at the Olympics who cares about the time?”
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