Emmanuel Wanyonyi Speaks After Threatening 800m World Record in Stockholm

Emmanuel Wanyonyi threatens world record

Emmanuel Wanyonyi Speaks After Threatening 800m World Record in Stockholm

Abigael Wafula 09:41 - 16.06.2025

Emmanuel Wanyonyi delivered a world-leading time in Stockholm, just shy of the world record.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi threatened the 800m world record at the Diamond League Meeting in Stockholm on Sunday night.

The reigning Olympic 800m champion clocked a stunning world-leading time of 1:41.95 ahead of Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati, who came in second in a time of 1:42.27. American Josh Hoey rounded up the podium in 1:42.43.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi has been impressive so far this season, winning the 2km at the Kenyan Cross-Country Championships before dominating the Grand Slam Track debut in Kingston with a second-place finish in the 800m and a win in the 1500m.

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The Kenyan 800m star then won the mile road at the Adizero: Road to Records before making his Diamond League debut in Rabat, where he finished third. Emmanuel Wanyonyi then won the 800m in Oslo before his statement race in Stockholm.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi Not Under Pressure

Emmanuel Wanyonyi
Emmanuel Wanyonyi is the reigning 800m Olympic champion.

Following his impressive performance in Stockholm, Emmanuel Wanyonyi is impressed with the improvements he has made.

He admitted that it is never easy lining up against strong athletes, but with God, he has managed to make a name for himself in the two-lap race.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi added that he is under no pressure to break David Rudisha’s world record, and at the moment, his focus is solely on making himself better.

“I’m starting to run well in the 800m, and first of all, I want to thank God for this performance. It’s not easy, but I tried my best today,” Emmanuel Wanyonyi said after the race.

“I need to run my race in the 800m, and I don’t need to feel any pressure because this is a competitive race. I just focus on myself from now to the next event. I decided to run the 1500m for my endurance in the 800m.”

Emmanuel Wanyonyi on Looking Up to Usain Bolt

Fastest man alive Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt

Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the world 800m silver medallist, further opened up about drawing inspiration from the fastest man alive, Usain Bolt.

Usain Bolt holds world records in the 100m (9.58 seconds) and 200m (19.91 seconds), times he set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Germany.

“Usain Bolt is my big role model, he has very fast times in the 100m and 200m, so I appreciate him and he is a legend,” Emmanuel Wanyonyi added.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s sole goal this season will be to finally get hold of the gold medal at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan and he is building up towards that.