The Kenyan’s finely-honed build-up to the London Video games paid off with a late, world record-breaking surge that gave him victory by nearly a second in 1:40.91
London was very particular. It was my Olympic debut. In 2008, I used to be making ready for Beijing, however I wasn’t that fortunate. I injured myself racing in Ostrava so I needed to simply give attention to my highschool exams that yr and preserve going to my courses.
In contrast, 2012 was very a lot inside my attain, and I began preparation from a good distance out. Monitoring my performances from 2009-2011, it was all simply the build-up for 2012. By that point, I had extra expertise. I had already mastered my races, I knew precisely what to do, and the way to execute my competitions.
I began 2012 very properly. I went to Australia and did just a few races after which got here again to Kenya to arrange for the principle season. I didn’t achieve this many races that yr as a result of I didn’t wish to tire out earlier than the championships. However the ones I did have been top quality.
I ran 1:41 twice – as soon as in Paris and as soon as in New York. We have been very assured that we have been on the appropriate path as a result of we have been transferring ahead. We have been simply praying that we didn’t get any points with damage and so forth, plus I used to be additionally praying for good climate and excellent circumstances for that night time of the ultimate. I’m glad that our prayers have been answered.
Going into an Olympics, there’s loads of stress. It’s monumental. You’re representing your nation, you may have so many followers round the world over and so many individuals watch the Olympics. However I knew properly that I used to be sturdy – and I used to be in my greatest type of my life.
I wanted simply to consider in myself, and have that confidence going on the market. I already had a plan on what I used to be going to do in that remaining, then I used to be simply making an attempt my greatest to be sure that I caught to my plan.
David Rudisha (Getty)
As a result of I used to be a entrance runner, it was a lot simpler for me to execute the splits. My plan was to shut the primary 400m in 49 seconds, and do one thing like 1:14 for 600m, which I used to be in a position to obtain as a result of I can actually management my tempo in a calculated means.
Generally it’s not simple as a result of throughout the race somebody can interrupt you or resolve to go loopy within the first 200m or the primary 400m. It might probably disrupt your plan, however I used to be crossing my fingers that every part went properly.
The cool factor was that the opposite guys knew that I used to be a entrance runner, they usually knew that usually I didn’t take it simple. I wasn’t the form of one who can go ahead and sluggish the tempo at a given time. They knew I used to be going to go quick.
I wasn’t additionally anticipating the world report. I knew that I used to be going for a quick race however, within the 800m, it’s exhausting to interrupt a world report and not using a pacesetter. In many of the races, we had the assistance of the rabbit. What actually gave me loads of confidence was operating 1:42.0 within the Kenyan trials. I stated: “Wow, I used to be that near 1:41 and not using a pacemaker.” Then I stated: “Properly, why can’t I simply attempt that within the Olympics?”
The ultimate was quick. The primary lap took 49 seconds and 1:14 for 600m, as I’d laid out. However once I appeared on the massive display, simply once I was approaching the 600m mark, I noticed the blokes have been proper behind me. I requested myself: “Am I not going that quick?” I felt like I used to be pushing however beforehand, throughout a race of 1:41, usually you’ll see a little bit of a spot.
I held myself just a little bit after 600m, simply to be sure that I didn’t actually tire within the final 100m. After I noticed the others proper behind me, in my thoughts, I felt: “Am I going to die?” I’d given it my greatest. I’d been making an attempt to push quick, so let me preserve one thing within the tank a minimum of for the final 150m. I didn’t actually transfer with full smoothness till I used to be popping out of the again straight.
On the end, once I noticed the massive clock with the time and outcomes, that’s once I realised that these guys have been additionally very quick … no marvel they have been simply behind me!
Andrew Osagie and David Rudisha (Getty)
That night time was actually nice. It was a particular achievement. I contacted my coach, Brother Colm, who was watching from Kenya. He was actually pleased as a result of to interrupt a world report in an Olympic remaining is a good achievement and I used to be actually pleased to win a gold medal. That was my final level to go to.
Getting ready to go to the Olympics was very particular, as a result of my father was a silver medallist in 1968 and typically, once I was younger, I used to tease him with: “You gained silver and also you’ll by no means return to the monitor once more however I’ve an opportunity to be higher than you.”
READ MORE: Andrew Osagie on the best 800m in historical past
We used to snigger as a result of he knew being second gave me an opportunity to win towards him. It was a joke that got here to go and it’s very nice typically while you see a youngster telling you one thing like that, however then ensuring that they keep the course and work exhausting. He’s speaking the speak and strolling the stroll.
After I went again, I advised my father: “Now we’re two Olympians.” I may see his emotion. I used to be very proud and pleased about my achievement as properly.
As advised to Mark Woods
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