BEIJING - World record holder David Rudisha dominated the men’s 800m final on Tuesday night in Beijing, going wire to wire to take his second career World title in 1:45.84.

 

The Kenyan led up front through a slow opening lap of 54.17 seconds, with no one willing to go past Rudisha as the inexperienced field waited for him to move. When the 26-year-old Olympic champion finally did start rolling with 200 to go, no one could challenge him as he hammered to the line with plenty of wheels left after the slow opener. Rudisha clocked a 51.67 last lap and raised his arms in celebration having weathered two frustrating years of injury and setbacks to collect gold in Beijing. 

 

“My speed came back when I needed it, and it was so important to me to come back here and to display that after two years of disappointment and injury,” Rudisha said afterwards.

 

Rudisha had been struggling before these championships as a result of a nagging knee injury that caused him to miss the 2013 World Championships and struggle in his build up to Beijing. 

 

“It was very tough for me, to have that career-threatening injury but I want to thank my coach and my family who have really supported me,” he said.

 

Poland’s Adam Kszczot and Bosnia’s Amel Tuka grabbed the other medals in 1:46.08 and 1:46.30, respectively. Both men earned their first outdoor World Championships medals in Beijing. 

 

For Rudisha, his ascent back to the top of the world has been a struggle since his stunning 1:40.91 record-breaking run in the 2012 Olympic final, as his injuries prevented him from competing at the 2013 World Championships and have made the once dominant Kenyan very mortal the last two seasons. 

 

Rudisha’s nagging knee injury has certainly stunted the speed he displayed three years ago in London, and entering these championships the 26-year-old was not favored to win gold in Beijing after taking losses in his last three contests. 

 

Crucially though, Rudisha’s chief rival Nijel Amos of Botswana, who had beaten the Kenyan in six straight races dating back to last season, failed to advance to the final. Amos was the runner-up to Rudisha in the Olympic final three years ago, and was among the favorites to win in Beijing. 

 

Without Amos, or defending champion Mo Aman, the door was open for Rudisha to command the final against a field of men with no other World/Olympic medalists. And that’s exactly what he did.

 

As the field made the break after the first 100m, Rudisha settled in on the rail and the group followed closely behind as he passed the 200 in 25.06, a far cry from the 23-second half lap split en route to his world record in London. The next 200 was even slower, however, as Rudisha put on the brakes early to save as much energy as possible for the final sprint. 

 

Even after hitting the bell in a brutally slow 54.17 seconds, no one was willing to go past Rudisha as the other seven men instead played the waiting game. The slow place would continue for another 200 before eventual silver medalist Adam Kszczot finally made an attempt to pass Rudisha on the inside, a move that the Kenyan countered by zooming in front of him and denying him space in the inside lane. 

 

600m was crossed in 1:21.50, and finally Rudisha started moving after being prompted by Kszczot. With his tremendous 6’3 frame occupying lane 1, Rudisha maintained his spot on the rail as they entered the home stretch. From there, Rudisha powered home unchallenged, reminiscent to three years ago in the Olympic final.