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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Rudisha back with a bang

Weird News

By The Standard Sports | Jul 30, 2009

By Mutwiri Mutuota

The ‘Pride of Africa’ raised his hands to soak thunderous cheers from a 10,000 strong crowd as he finished head, shoulders and powerful feet above all challengers at the Berlin Trials.

A wide smile of triumph lit his face as he picked up a bouquet of flowers reserved for winners.

It was a rare show of unrestrained joy for David Lekuta Rudisha. Reserved in nature, the Africa champion who prefers to keep his emotions in check after winning performances, perhaps in a mark of respect for his competitors, let all out after the qualification queue for Berlin World Championships.

"That was a show of releasing immense pressure he had before the race and ultimately, the happiness he felt after overcoming the disappointment of missing the Olympics," his manager, James Templeton, said as Rudisha engaged reporters for his post-race interview.

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World junior

Yes, the ‘Pride of Africa’, nicknamed after flawless display of running to a commanding 1:47.40 success at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing, is back to take up his rightful place.

"Missing the Olympics was a trying time for me. I sat to watch the 800m final on television and although I was happy Wilfred Bungei won, I felt disappointed for missing the games," Rudisha said.

With timers giving his effort a winning mark of 1:47.00, Rudisha had finally faced and triumphed over fears of another major championships heartache.

In the process, he gave an expectant crowd a show they wanted to feast their eyes on, a return of the fluid running style that led those who sampled his talents in Beijing and Addis Ababa where he won the continental title (1:46.41) last year to ordain him a crown prince of 800m running.

At 20, Rudisha’s rising career derailed by a foot injury in the run-up to last year’s Beijing Olympics that saw him miss the event’s trials and subsequent selection, is back on track.

"The race was good, I was feeling good although we were pushing each other after the bell. I’m very happy after winning my second senior trial. I’m coming back and that is what I have been longing for," he emphatically stated.

After Beijing’s distress Rudisha, then a Form Four student at St Francis Iten, put his career on hold as he prepared to face the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examiner.

"I was impressed with my results and I will think of what to pursue in academics but for now, my focus is on doing well at the World Championships. I can’t definitely say I’m going there to win, for me it is one step at a time since championships are different for grand prix races."

On his comeback trail before the trials, he began his season by placing fourth (1:44.78, May 8) in Qatar before running his career best of 1:43.53 for third in Hengelo (June 1).