‘It Was Rice and Spaghetti Daily’ - Emmanuel Wanyonyi Shares Tokyo Struggles Before World Championships Gold

World and Olympics 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi has opened up about some of the struggles athletes go through while on international duty.

Wanyonyi is still basking in the glory of his gold medal win at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan last month, when he stunned a strong field to win his first world title.

The 21-year-old, who has become a revelation at such a young age, winning the Olympics title last year and setting the second fastest time in history, says the conditions behind the scenes in Japan were not favourable to Team Kenya athletes before a Kenyan diplomat came to their rescue.

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While corroborating Faith Kipyegon’s words that the Kenyan ambassador to Tokyo Moi Lemoshira had to step in to help get Kenyan delicacy for him to perform, Wanyonyi says the food served in Japan was not suitable to them and made their stay unbearable, before the diplomat stepped in.

“When we got to Japan, the food was always the same. We were eating rice and spaghetti, lunch and dinner every day,” Wanyonyi told NTV.

“I want to thank the [Kenyan] ambassador in Japan. He came and had a sit down with us and told us that if we wanted food, we could go to the embassy. We would go there and when we could not, he would send it to camp.”

Wanyonyi says food plays a major part in athletes’ performances and it can be the difference between a good and bad race.

He admits that some are forced to skip meals when what is being served is not familiar to them and it adds onto their pressure on the track.

“Having food that you are familiar with helps a lot. Many athletes get affected by this so much so that when it gets to meal time, they do not go for it,” added the 2023 world 800m silver medalist.

“When you do not have an option, you eat whatever is available, because you must eat so that you have the power to run. Then again, if you are under pressure, most athletes do not eat and that has an effect.”

Wanyonyi is looking forward to stamping his authority on the track going forward as he feels there is still so much to come from him despite his incredible success at just 21.