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 virtually 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 lessons.
In contrast, 2012 was very a lot inside my attain, and I began preparation from a great 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 learn how to execute my competitions.
I began 2012 very properly. I went to Australia and did a couple of races after which got here again to Kenya to organize for the principle season. I didn’t accomplish that many races that yr as a result of I didn’t need 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 fitting path as a result of we have been shifting 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 a whole lot of stress. It’s monumental. You’re representing your nation, you might 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 finest type of my life.
I wanted simply to imagine 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 last, then I used to be simply attempting my finest 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 manner.
Generally it’s not straightforward as a result of in the course of the race somebody can interrupt you or resolve to go loopy within the first 200m or the primary 400m. It could actually disrupt your plan, however I used to be crossing my fingers that every little thing went properly.
The cool factor was that the opposite guys knew that I used to be a entrance runner, and so they knew that usually I didn’t take it straightforward. I wasn’t the sort of one who can go ahead and gradual the tempo at a given time. They knew I used to be going to go quick.
I wasn’t additionally anticipating the world file. I knew that I used to be going for a quick race however, within the 800m, it’s laborious to interrupt a world file and not using a pacesetter. In a lot of the races, we had the assistance of the rabbit. What actually gave me a whole lot of confidence was working 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: “Nicely, 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 after I seemed on the massive display, simply after 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 niche.
I held myself somewhat bit after 600m, simply to be sure that I didn’t actually tire within the final 100m. Once I noticed the others proper behind me, in my thoughts, I felt: “Am I going to die?” I’d given it my finest. I’d been attempting to push quick, so let me preserve one thing within the tank not less than 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, after I noticed the large clock with the time and outcomes, that’s after I realised that these guys have been additionally very quick … no surprise 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 joyful as a result of to interrupt a world file in an Olympic last is a good achievement and I used to be actually joyful to win a gold medal. That was my final level to go to.
Making ready to go to the Olympics was very particular, as a result of my father was a silver medallist in 1968 and typically, after I was younger, I used to tease him with: “You received silver and also you’ll by no means return to the observe 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 snicker as a result of he knew being second gave me an opportunity to win towards him. It was a joke that got here to cross and it’s very nice typically once you see a teenager telling you one thing like that, however then ensuring that they keep the course and work laborious. He’s speaking the discuss and strolling the stroll.
Once I went again, I informed my father: “Now we’re two Olympians.” I might see his emotion. I used to be very proud and joyful about my achievement as properly.
As informed to Mark Woods
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