Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi just proved he’s the new king of the 800 metres, clinching Olympic gold on Saturday (August 10) in one of the most thrilling races in history! At just 20 years old, Wanyonyi blazed through the finish line in a jaw-dropping 1:41.19, making him the third-fastest man ever over this distance.
The race was packed with drama as Canada’s world champion Marco Arop made a furious dash in the final 100 meters, coming oh-so-close to overtaking Wanyonyi but finishing just one-hundredth of a second behind with a time of 1:41.20. Talk about a photo finish!
Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati, who was unbeaten all season and had set four world-leading times, had a bit of a misstep by hanging out at the back of the pack for too long. He still managed to claim bronze with a time of 1:41.50, but it wasn’t quite the result he was hoping for.
With this win, Wanyonyi continues Kenya’s incredible legacy in the 800m, securing the country’s fifth consecutive Olympic title in the event. And while he just missed breaking the world record set by Kenya’s own David Rudisha in 2012, Wanyonyi has certainly cemented his place in the history books.
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