David Rudisha
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| Nationality | Kenyan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 17 December 1988 Kilgoris |
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| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 800 metres | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) |
400 m: 45.50 (2010) |
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Medal record
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David Lekuta Rudisha (born 17 December 1988) is a Kenyan middle distance runner and world record holder in the 800 metres with a time of 1:41.01. Rudisha holds four of the ten fastest times for this event.
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[edit] Early life
Born in Kovai, Trans Mara District, Rudisha went to St. Francis, Kimuron Secondary School in Iten, Keiyo District, which is known for nurturing several top runners. Initially he was a 400 metres runner, but his coach, Colm O’Connell, prompted him to try 800 metres. In 2006 he became the world junior champion over that distance.[2]
[edit] Career
Rudisha competed at the 2009 World Athletics Championships, reaching the 800 metres semifinals. In September 2009, Rudisha won the IAAF Grand Prix meeting in Rieti, Italy, posting a new African record of 1:42.01, beating the 25-year old record of 1:42.28 set by compatriot Sammy Koskei. That effort put him in fourth place on the all-time list.[3] In the 2010 IAAF Diamond League, he took on Abubaker Kaki at the Bislett Games in June. He defeated Sebastian Coe's 31-year-old meet record with a run of 1:42.04, giving him another place in the top-ten fastest ever 800 m and leaving Kaki the consolation of the fastest ever non-winning time.[4] On 10 July 2010, Rudisha ran the 800 m in 1:41.51 at the KBC Night of Athletics in Heusden, Belgium; this new personal record placed him #2 all-time in the world for the 800 m.[5]
Rudisha currently holds the world record for the 800 m. He broke the record at the ISTAF IAAF World Challenge meet in Berlin on 22 August 2010, with a time of 1:41.09.[6] The previous record, held by Kenyan-born Danish Citizen runner Wilson Kipketer, had stood since 1997; Rudisha broke the record by 0.02 seconds.[7] Rudisha claimed that it had been his "first real attempt" at breaking the record, and that he was capable of improving the time. This was proven one week later when he set a new WR of 1:41.01 in Rieti, Italy.[8] In November 2010, at the age of 21, he became the youngest ever athlete to win the IAAF World Athlete of the Year award. He also won the Kenyan Sportsman of the Year award [9]
[edit] Personal life
Rudisha is a member of the Maasai tribe.[2] Rudisha's father, Daniel Rudisha, is a former runner who won silver at the 1968 Olympics as part of the Kenyan 4 × 400 m relay team, while his mother Naomi is a former 400 m hurdler.[10]
He is married to Lizzy Naanyu with a daughter (as of 2010).[10]
[edit] Achievements
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing  Kenya |
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| 2006 | World Junior Championships | Beijing, China | 1st | 800 m (1:47.40) |
| 2007 | African Junior Championships | Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | 1st | 800 m (1:46.41)[11] |
| 2008 | African Championships | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 1st | 800 m (1:44.20) |
| 2009 | World Athletics Final | Thessaloniki, Greece | 1st | 800 m (1:44.85) |
| 2010 | African Championships | Nairobi, Kenya | 1st | 800 m (1:42.84) |
| 2011 | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 1st | 800 m (1:43.91) |
[edit] Personal bests
| Event | Time | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 m | 45.50 | 27 February 2010 | Sydney |
| 800 m | 1:41.01 WR | 29 August 2010 | Rieti |
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.iaaf.org/news/athletes/newsid=46175.html Focus on Athletes – David Lekuta RUDISHA
- ^ a b IAAF, September 13, 2009: Rudisha: Following in the footsteps of Konchellah and Kipketer?. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
- ^ IAAF, September 6, 2009: Rudisha 1:42.01 African 800m record in Rieti – IAAF World Athletics Tour. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
- ^ Middle distance magic in Oslo – IAAF Diamond League. IAAF (2010-06-04). Retrieved on 2010-06-07.
- ^ "Phenomenal 1:41.51 for Rudisha in Heusden-Zolder". IAAF. 2010-07-10. http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=57337.html. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ^ "Athletics: Record for Rudisha". Sky Sports (British Sky Broadcasting). 22 August 2010. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12993_6329676,00.html. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "David Rudisha breaks 800m world record". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 22 August 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/8935022.stm. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ James, Ryland (22 August 2010). "Outstanding Rudisha sets new 800m world record". AFP. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jiqs3knivFSHoZQDSndd1eKI5yAA. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ The Standard, December 11, 2010: Rudisha and Lagat crowned Soya best athletes
- ^ a b China Daily, September 8, 2010: Feature: Kenya's Rudisha receives heroic welcome
- ^ IAAF, August 13, 2007: Rudisha takes expected gold in Ouagadougou as African junior championships conclude. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: David Rudisha |
- IAAF profile for David Rudisha
| Records | ||
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Preceded by Wilson Kipketer |
Men's 800 metres world record holder 29 August 2010 – present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Awards | ||
Preceded by Usain Bolt |
IAAF World Athlete of the Year 2010, 2011 |
Succeeded by Usain Bolt |
| Preceded by Usain Bolt |
Men's Track & Field Athlete of the Year 2010 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Sporting positions | ||
Preceded by Abubaker Kaki |
Men's 800 metres best year performance 2009–2010 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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