David Rudisha secured Kenya’s second gold medal of the Rio 2016 Olympics, winning the men’s 800m final in 1:42.15 beating Algeria’s Taoufik Makhloufi.
If it was ever in doubt, it is now comprehensively established that Rudisha is one of the all-time greats at middle distance after he successfully defended his title from the London 2012 Olympics, the first man to do so since Tokyo 1964.
There was no world record this time around, but the calm and collected champion will be satisfied with his running. The race started at a frantic pace after his compatriot Alfred Kipketer, who had beaten him at the Kenyan trials set off quickly in an attempt to stretch the field. His strategy backfired however and Rudisha regained control of the race with 250m to go.
Algeria’s Makhloufi, who will be favourite for the 1500m tried to apply pressure on the champion, but this was to be Rudisha’s day.