Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi is back in Lausanne for tonight’s Diamond League meeting, a venue that holds special significance for the young Kenyan star.

It was here last year that the 21-year-old clocked a stunning 1:41.11, a time that instantly placed him in a tie for second on the all-time list, just shy of David Rudisha’s legendary world record.

The performance was a career-defining moment for Wanyonyi, as he demonstrated his incredible talent and confirmed his status as a serious contender for the global record.

His time of 1:41.11 in Lausanne was the fastest in the world in 2024 and put him tantalizingly close to Rudisha’s 1:40.91 mark from the 2012 London Olympics.

During a pre-race press conference, Wanyonyi expressed his eagerness to return to the Swiss city. He recalled the feeling of elation after his performance last year, which sealed his decision to make a comeback.

“After I crossed the finish line, I felt so happy with the time, and I decided I would come back to the lovely city of Lausanne to run again,” he said.

While the athletics world is buzzing with anticipation about a potential world record attempt, Wanyonyi remains grounded.

He recognizes the immense challenge of surpassing Rudisha, who consistently ran sub-1:42 times throughout his career.

“Rudisha ran sub 1:42 almost eight times. I have run just five times, so I still have some more races before I can challenge for the world record,” Wanyonyi stated, showing a maturity beyond his years.

His focus remains on his own progression and building a consistent record of fast times.

As Wanyonyi takes to the track tonight, all eyes will be on him.

The race will not only be about victory but also about his continued pursuit of a place in history, as he attempts to close the gap on one of the most iconic records in track and field.

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