Rudisha returns to form with Beijing 800 metres triumph
If the Rudishas are still thinking about names for their new baby, Beijing wouldn’t be too bad a choice. True, it’s not very Kenyan but it would be evocative.
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Nine years ago in the Chinese capital, a 17-year-old David Rudisha announced his talent by winning the world junior title.
From then on big things have been expected of that willowy youth.
And he hasn’t disappointed.
He performed well in the 2009 world championshps in Berlin by reaching the semi-finals.
Two years later in Daegu in South Korea, he won the world championship crown and underlined his dominance at the 2012 London Olympics, setting a world record on his way to gold.
Lord Sebastian Coe, head of the London games organising committee, called Rudisha’s race one of the most complete performances he had witnessed. And he should know. In his day Coe held the 800 metres world record and won two silver medals at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics over the distance.
In short, to use the American slang Rudisha was ‘the daddy’.
On 25 August 2015 Rudisha claimed his second world championship title. He swept home in 1:45.84. Adam Kszczot from Poland was second and Amel Tuka from Bosnia-Herzegovina collected the bronze – his country’s first medal at a world championships.
Admittedly Rudisha’s mark was some way off his London highlight of 1:40.91. But ask any athlete and they’ll always say it’s the medals that matter. In any case, fast times have been the least of Rudisha’s worries.
“I’m really happy to be back after a very difficult two years with injuries,” he said after his triumph. “To be back here in Beijing in 2015 and to win this title means a lot to me.”
Problems with his knee meant that he couldn’t defend his Daegu title at the Moscow world championships in 2013. His gradual return to the circuit has also forced him to deal with an unusual issue – defeats.
Botswana’s Nijel Amos and the Ethiopian defending world champion Mohamed Aman had become serious contenders in his absence. But they failed to make the final. There was something of an impertinent – borderline rude - question from one reporter who asked Rudisha if he felt lucky to have won.
In response, Rudisha was charm incarnate.
“You know championships are always very difficult,” he replied. “As you may now we go through three rounds. You know we have great athletes. Amos and Aman were the favourites coming into the competition but 800 metres is one of the most unforgiving races.
“If you make a simple mistake you are out. It’s unfortunate for them that they didn’t make the final. I was expecting to race them in the final because I didn’t think they would miss out. But this is a championship and anything can happen. The most important thing is to get to the final.”
In their absence, the pressure rose on Rudisha. He responded by opting for his default setting: the lead. He ran 54.17 for the first lap. His compatriot Ferguson Rotich, who had beaten him at the Kenyan trials, was bang on his shoulder with everyone else not far behind.
With 300 metres to go, Rudisha started to glide through gears, stretching the race out with a dozen of those fabled strides. Rotich tried to stay close but Kszczot passed him and appeared to be gaining. But Rudisha, who had spent the month before the championships working on his speed in the final 120 metres, could not be caught. The final lap of 51.67 was a time reminiscent of vintage days.
One of the most consistent runners on the international circuit, Kszczot’s silver adds to an increasingly impressive collection which includes the world indoor and the European titles from last year as well as two European indoor titles from 2011 and 2013.
Tuka’s bronze in his first world championships suggests that he will be a force on the 800 metres circuit. When Amos and Aman are back, the 800 metres will be full of battles royal.
For the moment though it’s king David. Or perhaps under the circumstances, David, the daddy.
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