World Athletics Championships 2025: Emmanuel Wanyonyi Leaves Fans Guessing After 800m Heats

Emmanuel Wanyonyi

World Athletics Championships 2025: Emmanuel Wanyonyi Leaves Fans Guessing After 800m Heats

Abigael Wafula 13:22 - 17.09.2025

Emmanuel Wanyonyi has opened up about his intentions after cruising to the 800m semis at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi has given a positive update following his 800m heats at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

The reigning Olympic 800m champion eased to a 1:45.05 victory in his heat, with Italian Francesco Pernici finishing second in 1:45.11. Ireland’s Mark English rounded up the podium in a time of 1:45.13.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi will be competing in the third heat of the semifinal, going up against Jamaica’s Navasky Anderson, American Bryce Hoppel, and Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela, among other 800m stars.

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Emmanuel Wanyonyi: I Was Just Testing Myself in the Semis

Emmanuel Wanyonyi
Emmanuel Wanyonyi. © Wanda Diamond League

Speaking after the race, the world 800m silver medallist revealed that after winning the Diamond League Meeting final in Zurich, he had not done much and competing in the 800m heats at the World Athletics Championships was to gauge his form.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi revealed that ahead of the semifinal, he will speak to the coach and find out what he did wrong in the heats.

“I thank God for enabling me to run well, and I was just testing myself…Now I know how my body is. I need to be very keen in the semis so I can make it to the final,” Emmanuel Wanyonyi revealed.

“I think I will speak to my coach to know where I went wrong so he can correct me ahead of the semis.”

Emmanuel Wanyonyi revealed that the level between the Diamond League and the World Championships is very different since people are solely focused on winning without considering the time.

He insisted that competing in the Diamond League has helped him gain the much-needed experience, but with every race, he continues to gain new things.

Despite this being his third World Championship, Emmanuel Wanyonyi noted that it is still a learning experience.

“The Diamond League is very different from the World Championships because here it’s all about experience, and people are not necessarily chasing times but victories. I’m continuing to gain a lot of experience because, as you run, you learn a lot of things too,” he added.

“For now, everything is on course. I want to go to the semis and see how the final goes. The weather is a bit unfavourable, but that’s affecting everyone, so it’s not an excuse.”

Emmanuel Wanyonyi made his World Championships debut in 2022 in Eugene, Oregon, where he finished fourth in the final before claiming a silver medal at the 2023 edition in Budapest, Hungary.