TOKYO 2020: Kenya's wait for gold over after Korir triumphs in 800m

Kenya’s wait for the first gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games is over after Emmanuel Korir won the men’s 800m at the Olympic Stadium. Korir clocked 1:45.06 to win the race ahead of his compatriot Ferguson Rotich who won silver thanks to his 1:45.23 while Patryk Dobek of Poland was third after timing 1:45.39.

Coming into the race, Rotich alongside the 2012 Games silver medal Nijel Amos who has a personal best of 1:41.73 anda season best of 1:42.91 were considered the athletes to beat but it was the youthful Korir who had the last laugh after unleashing a might kick the second from the final bend to cross the line ahead of the rest.

The win comforts Korir fully after he was disqualified from the first round of the 400m for false start forcing him to concentrate on the two-lap race in which he was the second fastest this year after Nijel.

With the outgoing champion David Rudisha out, the weight of defending the crown was laid on the experienced Rotich and Korir and the two did not disappoint as they ensured that Kenya has won gold in four successive editions of the Games.

Korir who summoned his energies after the bell outsprinted Australian Peter Bol who appeared promising in the first lap and had to maintain the rhythm to the line.

Rotich on the other hand burst to the medal bracket after muscling his way past Dobek and Ben Adrian of Spain inside the 100m territory but he was not quick enough to beat Korir.

The 2019 World silver medalist Amel Tuka of Bosnia and Herzegovina finished sixth in 1:45.98 while Adrian was fifth in 1:45.96.

Following the win, Kenya has five medals and tops the charts albeit at the continental level. Ethiopia and Uganda are tied on three medals apiece.