Emmanuel Wanyonyi explains his rivalry with Marco Arop and Djamel Sedjati in quest to break David Rudisha's record

Olympic 800m champion has provided an inside look at his fierce competition with Canada’s and Algeria’s , describing the nuances of racing against both athletes. 

This year, the three have clashed multiple times, driving each other to perform at record-breaking speeds, and sparking debates over who will ultimately come closest to breaking David Rudisha’s historic 1:40.91 world record

In 2024 alone, 11 of the fastest 20 times in the history of the 800 meters have been set, with both Wanyonyi and Arop clocking within three-tenths of Rudisha’s time. 

800m Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi has given a hilarious account on how his family members, including his own mother, were surprised to see him running on TV at the World U-20 Championsips in 2021 after assuming he had initially "ran away" from home.

Wanyonyi became the third-fastest man in history when he ran 1:41.19 in Paris, and soon after set a

Arop’s best time stands at 1:41.20, while Sedjati posted 1:41.46 this season, making the trio a dominant force in the 800m event as they inch closer to Rudisha’s record.

In a recent interview with , Wanyonyi admitted that Sedjati is the more challenging opponent, particularly due to his tactical approach in the final stretch of races. Sedjati is known for holding back a powerful kick for the last 200 meters, a strategy that has proven difficult for many competitors to counter.

«Sedjati’s pace is deadly because he is good at timing people. He waits for you to gas out before he passes you by,» Wanyonyi revealed. «He is actually the most dangerous of the lot, so if you are ahead of him, you have to make sure you find a way to maintain your endurance.»

, but the Kenyan held on to secure the victory. Despite Sedjati’s dangerous finish, Wanyonyi managed to edge out Arop, who claimed the silver medal.

While Sedjati is a more tactical opponent, Wanyonyi spoke highly of his friendship and rivalry with According to Wanyonyi, Arop’s racing style pushes him to perform at his best and has significantly contributed to his recent personal achievements.

«Marco is a great friend of mine, and I thrive off his competition because if it weren’t for him, I would not have run that personal best,» Wanyonyi shared. «He makes me stretch my limits, and he is an ideal person to race because if he decides to go, he goes.»

Wanyonyi explained that while Sedjati’s strategic approach makes him a tough competitor, Arop’s straightforward racing style—dominating the race once he takes the lead—provides a different kind of challenge, one that the Olympics champion embraces.

With both Arop and Sedjati consistently pushing him to break barriers, Wanyonyi remains focused on surpassing David Rudisha’s legendary 1:40.91 time. The Kenyan sensation has made strides toward that goal, inching closer with each race, and continues to test his limits.

As the three athletes prepare for future showdowns, the world eagerly watches to see who will emerge as the one to finally break the 800m world record.