Olympic Games 800 metres champion, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, has declared that his best is yet to come as he prepares to lay claim to the global title at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo later this year.
Speaking moments after he was declared Sportsman of the Year 2024 on Thursday night in a colourful ceremony at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Wanyonyi, 20, said he is motivated now more than ever to match the achievements of some of the finest runners over the distance, including performances by David Rudisha who broke the world record at the 2012 London Olympics.
“People are asking whether I will attempt the world record this year, but I say that I will attempt to improve my personal best this year, and to fight for the world crown,” Wanyonyi said on Thursday night.
Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) founder Paul Tergat (right) hands over the Overall Men's Award to Paris Olympic 800m Gold medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi on April 17, 2025, at Tsavo Ball Room, Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
“One can’t just wake up one day and decide to go for the world record. It’s not impossible, but it takes good preparations and focus.”
The 2024 Diamond League winner in 800m spoke after being declared Male Athlete of the Year at the 21st edition of 2024 Sports Personality of the Year Awards (Soya) gala at KICC.
“I am not in a hurry to break the world record. If you look at what Rudisha did, he ran some good times before finally breaking the world record thrice,” Wanyonyi, the 2022 World Athletics Under-20 Championships 800m champion, observed.
Rudisha, who won the 800m title at the 2006 World Athletics Under-20 Championships held in Beijing, claimed the 800m title at the 2012 London Olympics, and at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. Rudisha also won the 2011 World Athletics Championships title in Daegu, South Korea, and again triumphed in 2015 when Beijing hosted the senior global track and field championships.
Rudisha, with a personal best of 1 minute, 41.51 seconds, broke the world record for the first time when he clocked 1:41.09 at the 2010 Berlin ISTAF Meeting on August 22, 2010, lowering Kenyan-born Dane Wilson Kipketer’s previous record of 1:41.11 from 1997.
It took only a week before Rudisha lowered the record with a time of 1:41.01 in Rieti, Italy on August 29, 2010. It took two years before Rudisha lowered his own record again with victory at the 2012 London Olympics in a time of 1:40.91. That record still stands.
The making of Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi
At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Wanyonyi ensured Kenya retained the Olympics 800m title for the fifth successive time. He also retaining his Diamond League 800m Trophy last year.
Wanyonyi broke the world road mile record with a time of 3:54.56 at the Adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany, in April, erasing the previous record of 3:56.13 by American Hobbs Kessler, who finished second to Wanyonyi in a time of 3:56.18.
Wanyonyi lent colour to the Kenya trials ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning in 1:41.70, which was the third fastest time ever over 800m behind Wilson Kipketer’s time of 1:41.11, and David Rudisha’s world record of 1:40.91.
Wanyonyi, 20, won gold at Paris Olympics in a time of 1:41.19, reclaiming the honour of being the third fastest man over the distance from Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati (1:41.46) who had taken over the honour in Monaco Diamond League to reclaim the third fastest man in history after Kipketer and Rudisha. Wanyonyi then improved his career best by 0.08 seconds to 1:41.11 when he retained his Diamond League crown in Lausanne Diamond on August 22, last year. That saw him tie with Kipketer for second place in the all-time 800m list behind Rudisha.
Wanyonyi made his world championships debut in 2023 in Oregon, USA, finishing fourth behind his compatriot Emmanuel Korir, Sedjati and Canada’s Marco Arop. Wanyonyi then settled for silver at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, losing the battle to Arop.
“In Oregon, I was still young and learning the ropes. In Budapest, I gained invaluable experience. The silver medal I won in Budapest motivated me to go for the Olympic gold in Paris. I am now fired up for Tokyo,” said Wanyonyi.
Olympics 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi celebrates with his trophy after being named the Sportsman of the Year 2024 during the Soya Awards gala ceremony at KICC, Nairobi on April 17, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Wanyonyi said his victory in Soya gala, his second after emerging the Most Promising Athlete in 2021, helps in his course ahead of Tokyo.
“I thank my fans for their support and above all God for his mercies. It’s not easy to win twice in Soya gala. It’s quite an emotional night for me, and I thank legendary athlete Paul Tergat for this initiative,” said Wanyonyi.
He dedicated the award to his mother, Margaret Nasimiyu, saying she struggled for the to have a better life.
“I owe everything to her and that is why when I run I always reflect on how life was difficult back then, and how mum struggled to feed us. It makes me work harder. She prays a lot for me and my siblings,” said Wanyonyi.
Wanyonyi started his season in the first leg of Grand Slam Track in Kingston, Jamaica, where he finished first in 1,500m and second in 800m to collect a total of US$ 100,000 (Sh13 million).
“I am under no pressure. The season is quite long,” Wanyonyi, who will try to better his Mile world record at Adizero Road to Records on April 26 in Germany, said.
