Emmanuel Wanyonyi Reveals How Fear of Past Heartbreak Inspired His 800m Triumph in Tokyo

Emmanuel Wanyonyi has explained what was going through his mind as he competed in the men’s 800m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

The reigning Olympic champion implemented an unusual strategy in the race, controlling the pace throughout the race, and it paid off well with a win.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi secured the victory in a championship record time of 1:41.86, ahead of Djamel Sedjati and Marco Arop, who finished second and third in times of 1:41.90 and 1:41.95.

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The newly-crowned world champion started his campaign with a win in the heats before proceeding to the semifinal, where he finished second and stamped authority in the final.

However, the race was far from straightforward for Emmanuel Wanyonyi, whose mind kept drifting back to the heartbreak of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

There, he narrowly missed the win after finishing second to Olympic 800m silver medallist Marco Arop. The memory of that setback lingered, fueling his determination while also reminding him of how quickly things could unravel.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi explained that in 2023, he was a bit inexperienced, but going into the 2025 edition, he knew what was needed of him and implemented the strategy.

“Yeah, I was afraid of a repetition of what would happen. Last year, Arop beat me in Budapest, the last World Championships, because of my inexperience. So, now I’m still learning to run the 800m,” Emmanuel Wanyonyi admitted.

“In the first 200m, Marco Arop went out too hard, and I decided to follow his pace and take the lead. I decided to run from the front because I’m gaining experience, and the last two years have made a major difference. I believe in myself; in the last 50m, no one can pass me.”

Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s victory in Tokyo was not just a testament to his speed but also about his maturity, growth, and resilience competing in the 800m.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi turned his past heartbreak into fuel and proved that he has learned how to master both the mental and physical demands of the two-lap race.

With the world title now alongside his Olympic crown, Emmanuel Wanyonyi has underlined his status as the man to beat in middle-distance running.