That precisely describes Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s phenomenal journey that puts the 21-year-old as favourite to break David Rudisha’s 800m world record that has stood since 2012 London Olympics.
What a way to end the season with “Top 40 Under 40” nomination that the middle distance athlete reckons that it inspires him to focus on improving his personal best time next year.
This year has been one of the most successful seasons where Wanyonyi ran his third career best time before capping it with a world title after falling short in 2023 to settle for silver,
“I pray to just stay focused next year and my wish is to improve my personal best and that will come with a good pre-season build,” said Wanyonyi, who is also in line for the World Athletics Male Track Athlete of the Year award.
"I pray to stay focused next year, and my wish is to improve my personal best, which will come with a good pre-season build."
“It’s much better when you are also recognised at home. It feels great and thanks to Nation Media Group for not only helping us to tell our stories but going further to appreciate us with the nomination,” said Wanyonyi.
Wanyonyi bounced from the loss in Rabat to win in Oslo in 1:42.78 on June 12 and Stockholm in 1:41.95 on June 15 before striking the Meet Record of 1: 41.44 in Monaco on July 11 where he took a shot at the world record.
Wanyonyi stumped authority, crushing world champion Marco Arap from Canada for his maiden London Diamond League victory in a Meet Record of 1:42.00 on July 19.
He would settle second in Lussaune in 1:43.29 on August 20, bounced back to win Diamond League Trophy in Zurich in 1:42.37 on August 28 before going on to dethrone Marco Arop of the world title in a championship record time of 1:42.86 on September 20.
Last year, Wanyonyi upheld Kenya’s dominance at the Olympics, winning gold at the Paris Olympics in a time of 1:41.19, which was then the third fastest time in history after Rudisha’s 1:40.91 and Wilson Kipketer 1:41.11.
Wanyonyi would improve his career best by 0.08 seconds to 1:41.11 when he retained his Diamond League crown in Lausanne Diamond on August 22, last year to see him tie with Kipketer for second place in the all-time list.
Wanyonyi now needs 0.2 seconds to equal Rudisha’s world record. Can he do it next season?
Beyond the world record and legacy Wanyonyi’s utmost pleasure is giving his family of 13 siblings a better life after his father died in 2018, leaving his mother Margaret Nasimiyu to fend for them.
Wanyonyi, who was driven to athletics by hardship and attributes his success to hard work and discipline, has since built three-bedroom houses for his mother and elder brothers, in addition to helping pay school fees for his other siblings.
-Ayumba Ayodi