Kenya finally opened it gold medal account at the 2020 Olympics Games in Tokyo Japan as Emmanuel Korir raced to the finish line in first place in 800m men race with the other Kenyan Ferguson Rotich winning silver.
The race was meant to confirm who is fit to wear King David Rudisha’s crown.
The world record holder had won in 2012 in London and 2016 in Rio and Tokyo 2020 was expected to unveil a new gold medallist in 800m for the first time in over eight years.
Korir took up the challenge at the bell and showed he was fit to wear Rudisha’s crown as he struck gold in 1:45.06 with Rotich clocking 1:45.23 for the silver.
Wilfred Bungei Beijing (2008) and David Rudisha (2012 and 2016) have won gold in the last three editions.
Paul Ereng, who is Korir’s coach, started Kenya’s love affair with the gold in the Olympics in 1988, with William Tanui keeping the title in Barcelona in 1992 before Bungei reclaimed it in 2008 in Beijing.
Korir now joins the exclusive club of Kenya’s 800m Olympics gold medallists.
Poland’s Patryk Dobek (1:45.39) took a surprise bronze, as Australia’s Peter Bol, who had taken the initiative in the early stages of the race, winding fourth outside the medals in 1:45.92.
Botswana’s Amos Nigel, the 2012 London Olympics silver medallist and the pre-race favourite owing to his world lead, finished a disappointing eighth place in 1:46.41.
Nigel was a late inclusion in the final after taking a hard fall in the semi-finals.
Kenya’s 800m legend David Rudisha holds the world record (1:40.91), and has won the gold in the last two Olympics – London 2012 and Rio 2016.
