Paris Olympics: Wanyonyi brave ahead of Sedjati sequel as Kinyamal offers winning strategy

2023 Diamond League champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi says that he is ready to battle Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati in Saturday’s Paris Olympics men’s 800m finals at the Stade de France.

Wanyonyi, a 2023 World Championships silver medalist, booked himself a spot in the highly awaited final set to gun off at 8:05 PM after winning his semifinal on Friday in a time of 1:43.32.

Paris Olympics: Title beckons for Wanyonyi as Kinyamal crashes out

World leader Sedjati, who is viewed as the biggest challenger to Wanyonyi, on the other hand clocked 1:45.08 to also win his semifinal, setting up a weekend showdown, which will also comprise of World champion Marco Arop of Canada, and Frenchman Gabriel Tual, who is the fifth fastest man over the distance.

Speaking first of his semifinal run on Friday, Wanyonyi said: “Getting into the finals was my key goal and I had to just run my race and avoid risking it.”

Asked what his strategy was, he added: “Going ahead and controlling the pace. I have noticed in these major competitions that you cannot run the risk of waiting till the last 100m to push, because that’s when everyone is doing the same and they don’t care.”

Wanyonyi, with his performance, became the only Kenyan to make the finals, after fellow countryman Wycliffe Kinyamal exited the competition courtesy of a third-place finish in a rather slow Semifinal 2.

The 27-year-old timed 1:45.29, and Wanyonyi said that he had “tried advising” Kinyamal to control the pace upfront - which he didn’t, and was forced to scramble in the closing 700m to ultimately miss the cut.

“You rarely know what is going to happen in knock-outs,” Wanyonyi added.

With focus shifting to the final, Wanyonyi, 20, was diplomatic in his response on how to challenge Sedjati, who is the third fastest man at the distance, saying: “I will deal with him. My body feels okay, I am strong, and expect a medal from me.”

The duo - Wanyonyi and Sedjati - recently faced off at the Paris Diamond League on 7 July, where the Algerian produced one of his late trademark finishes to pip past the Kenyan, clocking an astonishing time of 1:41.56.

Though reserved in his desired approach for the final, Kinyamal offered his advice saying: “Sedjati normally loves coming from behind to set up a late finish. Wanyonyi should go out, control the pace as he wants, then add an extra gear with 150m to go. Strike early, and give anyone no chance.”

With a win, Omanyala will join Wilfred Bungei, David Rudisha and Emmanuel Korir as the last five Olympic champions over the two-lap distance.

Paris Olympics: Emmanuel Wanyonyi out to take Kenya's fifth straight gold in 800m