
Paris Olympics: Title beckons for Wanyonyi as Kinyamal crashes out
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 09.08.24. | 13:20
Kenya will be hoping to extend dominance in the two-lap race having won in the last four editions
World silver medalist Emmanuel Wanyonyi will carry Kenya’s hopes of extending dominance in the Olympic Games 800m after advancing to the final on Friday 9 August afternoon.
The world number one 800m runner clocked 1:43.32 during the semis to punch a ticket to the final set for Saturday night at the Stade de France.
The 20-year-old raced from gun to tape in the final heat of the semis, winning ahead of Hoppel Bryce of the USA.
The duo of Burgin Max of Great Britain and Attaoui Mohamed of Spain benefited from the cutthroat pace, as the times registered were enough to secure their slots in the final as the fastest losers.
There were hopes of Kenya having two finalists, but multiple Commonwealth Games champion Wycliffe Kinyamal crashed out after finishing third in Heat 2.
Kinyamal timed 1:45.29, but it was not enough to upstage homeboy Gabriel Tual and world champion Marco Arop of Canada.
He’s top 2, and he’s not No. 2. 🔝
— TeamKenya (@OlympicsKe) August 9, 2024
He’s World No. 1. 🌍🥇
The only Kenyan in the men's 800m final tomorrow at 8:05 PM EAT.
20-year-old Olympic debutant Emmanuel Wanyonyi 🇰🇪🔥#TeamKenya #HesabikaNaMabingwa pic.twitter.com/NzlHukL7e1
Arop, who failed to reach the final of the Tokyo edition, won the opening heat in 1:45.05, with Tual coming in second after timing 1:45.16.
Tual finished seventh in Tokyo and will hope to capitalize on home comfort and make it to the podium.
The first heat saw the fastest man in the season, Djamel Sedjati, secure the top spot after finishing crossing the lane in 1:45.08.
Masalela Tshepiso of Botswana finished second after clocking 1:45.33
Wanyonyi will be tasked with retaining the title that Kenya has effortlessly won in the last four editions.
In the absence of Emmanuel Korir, a new champion will be crowned in Paris. Korir failed to make it to the Kenyan team after falling short during the trials.












