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Emmanuel WanyonyiKenyan track and field athlete
Date of Birth: 01.08.2004
Country:  Kenya |
Content:
Early Life and Career
Emmanuel Wanyonyi is a Kenyan middle-distance runner who specializes in the 800 meters. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, he won the gold medal in the event.
Wanyonyi began his career at a young age, finishing fourth in the 800 meters at the 2022 World Athletics Championships at the age of 18. He went on to win the gold medal at the 2021 World U20 Championships, setting a championship record.
International Success
In 2023, Wanyonyi emerged as a world-class runner. At the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, he finished second in the 800 meters behind Marco Arop, running 1:44.53.
Wanyonyi's breakthrough came in 2024 when he broke the world record in the road mile at the adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany. He clocked a time of 3:54.56, eclipsing the previous record held by American runner Hobbs Kessler.
Olympic Triumph
Wanyonyi continued his impressive form, running the third-fastest 800 meters time in history at the 2024 Kenyan Athletics Championships. This qualified him for the 2024 Olympics.
At the Olympics, Wanyonyi advanced through the rounds and reached the 800-meter final. In a thrilling race, he crossed the finish line in 1:41.19, capturing the gold medal and becoming the third-fastest man in history over the distance.
Legacy
Emmanuel Wanyonyi's Olympic victory established him as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time. His personal best of 1:41.11, set at the 2024 Lausanne Diamond League, ranks joint-second behind David Rudisha in the all-time 800-meter world rankings. Wanyonyi's achievements have cemented Kenya's reputation as a powerhouse in middle-distance running.
