Why David Rudisha feels his 800m record will be broken soon

For 13 years, David Rudisha's 800m world record has remained untouched.

However, he believes it is just a matter of time before his record is shattered.

Rudisha feels the advancements in technology, scientific training methods, and the relentless pursuit by the new generation of athletes are factors that bear a new record holder.

In an exclusive with Mozzart Sport, Rudisha said he had made peace with the fact that his record is living on borrowed time, and was looking forward to witnessing the moment.

"Now there is technology and spikes. They are now using spikes and some of the best shoes, and their training is also scientific. It will be good to see them finally reach that limit because world records are usually very special,” he offered.

In 2024, several men’s 800m races in different events delivered thrilling performances that shook the all-time rankings, with the record surviving by a whisker.

With the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo fast approaching, the competition in the two-lap event will definitely draw eyeballs.

"I might not be running, but I set the standard. Even when we were introduced to the field, we found records set by athletes who came before us. That is the bar I set before I left the track, and every other athlete coming up is looking at that record. It is good to see them striving to achieve that,” he said.

Paris 2024 Olympics gold medalist Emmanuel Wanyonyi has emerged as the front-runner in this pursuit.

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The 20-year-old had a spectacular 2024 season, clinching Olympic gold in Paris with a blistering 1:41.19, narrowly beating Canada’s Marco Arop by 0.01 seconds.

Wanyonyi later improved his time to 1:41.11, tying for the second-fastest time ever with Wilson Kipketer and coming within 0.20 seconds of Rudisha’s record.

Rudisha backed him to achieve the rare feat of breaking his world record.

"Like Wanyonyi is now the second fastest. If he keeps doing the right training and pushing on, it is just a matter of time before he breaks the record. This is one thing we get to see once in a lifetime. I am wishing them well, and I can see them closing in on the record,” he said.

But Wanyonyi is not alone. A new wave of middle-distance stars has risen, including Arop, Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati, France’s Gabriel Tual, and the United States’ Bryce Hoppel.

Hoppel, in particular, made headlines by breaking the U.S. national record with a stunning 1:41.67.

His time, which placed him fourth in the Olympic final, would have been good enough to win gold in any previous Olympic edition except for Rudisha’s legendary 2012 race.

Rudisha further explained the immense pride and joy of holding the record for over a decade.

"It feels very special. After every two years, we have World Championships, and after every four years, we have the Olympics, but my record has stood the test of time. Some records have lasted 30 or 40 years, while others can fall in just a day. I feel happy that I did my best and put the record at that level,” he revealed.

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Rudisha set the world record during the 2012 London Olympics in what has been hailed as "The Greatest 800 Meter Race Ever."

Leading from gun to tape, he became the first runner to break the 1:41 barrier in the 800m.

His record-breaking run remains an iconic moment in athletics history, with his average speed per 200m section clocking in at an astonishing 25.22 seconds.