Olympic champion and World 800m record-holder, David Rudisha has asked Kenyans to be patient as he ploughs his way back to the top.
After playing second fiddle to Commonwealth champion Nijel Amos from Botswana at Lausanne Diamond league on July 9, Rudisha said he is working on his way back ahead of the World Championships set for August 22 to 30 in Beijing, China.
Amos glided past Rudisha at the home straight to win in Lausanne on July 9 in a world lead time of 1:43.27.
Rudisha, who had won in New York on June 13 in season best’s 1:43.58, came in second in 1:43.76 with former Kenyan champion Ferguson Rotich (1:44.44) taking third followed by World Junior champion, Alfred Kipketer (1:45.14).
The race results mirrored the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where Amos beat Rudisha to second place.
Rudisha noted that even though he is in good shape, he is tirelessly working on his speed especially in the last 80m. “It has not been easy for me since returning from a knee injury,” said Rudisha, who failed to defend his World title at the 2013 Moscow Worlds after sustaining an injury while training at a New York park. “I want to tell Kenyans that I am on the right track and doing the best I can to regain my best shape.”
FEELS STRONG
The 26-year-old said he is pleased that he feels strong after finishing his races this season unlike last year when he felt completely worn out. “My shape is there but what I am doing is polishing on my speed,” Rudisha said. “I have been cautious not to push myself much with high speed since intense pressure on my knee could take me backwards.”
Rudisha will be making a pilgrimage to his “Theatre of Dreams,” the Olympic Stadium, London, for the first time since he took the arena by storm during the 2012 Olympic Summer Games.
The venue will be hosting the London Grand Prix on July 25 to 26 where the world 800m record-holder will be competing. It’s at the venue where Rudisha won the Olympic gold in a world record time of 1:40.91.
“I just don’t know how it will feel when I step there for the first time since the Olympics. I consider the place the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ and a place of good luck,” said Rudisha, who will return to Nairobi for the Worlds trials on July 31 to August 1.
Rudisha, currently training in Iten under his coach, Colm O’Connell, advised his 800m counterparts Rotich and Kipketer to be confident and work on being consistent. “The boys are good but they need to have self-belief that they can win races,” Rudisha said.
