David Rudisha

Kenya has produced excellent lap runners, unlike any other country. One of them is David Rudisha, who is the most incredible 800m runners ever.

In addition, David is one of the greatest track athletes. He is well-known as a middle-distance runner and an athletic competitor.

The runner won the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 800-meter race, which is regarded as one of his most significant accomplishments. 

In the 2011 World Championship, he wins gold in the 800-meter event. Thus, David Rudisha is the fastest man on earth when it comes to the 800m race.

The gold medalist earned his reputation after he set the world record of 1:40:91 at the London Olympics.

The record still stands today, and nobody has been able to beat it since. He has won gold medals at several 800m events in different championships. 

Further, if you seek to learn about his professional and personal life, you have come to the right place. 

Before diving into details about the athlete’s biography, here are some quick facts about him that you may enjoy. 

Quick Facts

Name David Rudisha
Full name David Lekuta Rudisha
Date of Birth December 17, 1988
Age 33 years old (as of July 2021)
Zodiac sign Sagittarius
Birthplace Kilgoris, Kenya
Parents Daniel Rudisha
Naomi Rudisha
Body type Athletic
Height 6’3″/1.90m
Weight  76 kg/168 lb
Eye color Black
Hair color Black
Skin Dark
Education St. Patrick’s High School
Famous For Being a champion Middle-distance runner
Status Retired
Professional Debut 2005
Greatest achievement Two-time World Champion
Relationship status Married
Wife Lizzy Naanyu
Affairs Samantha Tangui
Children Two daughters
Social Media Instagram
Twitter
Net Worth $5 million
Merch Middle Distance Running Spikes, Track Shoes
Last Update  July, 2022

Early Life, Education, and Family in David Rudisha

Maasai Warrior David was born in Kilgoris, Kenya, on December 17, 1988. He is a member of the Kenyan Maasai ethnic group.

It is therefore thought that he learned how to run from his parents. David Rudisha was born to their mother Naomi Rudisha and their father Daniel Rudisha, a professional runner.

Daniel also took home a silver medal from the 1968 Olympics. Additionally, he competed for the 4400 m relay team.

His mother is a former 400-meter hurdler, just like his father was. In terms of his nationality, Rudisha is from Kenya.

David further went to St. Patrick’s High School in Iten, Kenya. His alma mater is notable in its own right because Wilson Kipketer went there as well.

Wilson is a retired athlete and a former 800m world record holder.

Training

David, an Olympic champion, played a variety of sports, including running and sprinting. He received his instruction from Japheth Kimutai, who later recommended him to James Templeton.

As a result, David was one of the runners that Templeton was in charge of. Athletes like Bernard Lagat, Kimutai, and Augustine Choge once made up the team.

David started off as a 400-meter runner. Colm O’Connel, an Irishman who was his coach, suggested that he try the 800 meters.

As a result, David Rudisha quickly attained the title of junior world champion after years of training and adversity.

David Rudisha’s Wife, Kids, and Extramarital Affairs

David is a happily married man, as one might imagine. The Kenyan-born man and his longtime fiancée Lizzy Naanyu exchanged wedding vows.

The wedding ceremony for the pair took place in a private setting in 2010. The couple welcomed their daughter Charlene not long after being married.

The pair also welcomed a second daughter a few days after his victory at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.

Nevertheless, despite their four years of marriage, David was charged with infidelity in 2014. There was a notion that the sportsperson was having an affair with Samantha Tangui, David’s pacesetter’s niece.

In addition, a number of publications claimed that the two have been having an affair for over three years. In a news conference, Lizzy denied the rumors, calling them untrue.

Additionally, a 2014 altercation between David and his wife reportedly resulted in an injury. David, however, refuted each and every rumor.

He stated—and we’ll quote—

I even had a keyhole surgery after an ultrasound indicated that I had an injury deep in the centre of my knee and not that I had been harmed in a domestic dispute. My injuries are real from the sport and hard training.

Coach David Rudisha

Colm O’Connell, a well-known trainer who was born in rural Ireland, served as David’s previous instructor. In addition, the coach lacked any prior coaching or directing experience in Kenya.

Colm has also worked with around 25 athletes, including David Rudisha. He said during one of his interviews,

“Coaching sports would not seem to be a typical missionary role,” Then he discussed the value of the relationship between the coach and the player.

“I saw sports as a means of reaching out to young people. You may influence their life after you establish a connection with them through sport because they open up to you. They are confident in you. They consider you a buddy.

O’Connell added that David is the most exceptional athlete in his interview with the Financial Times.

David Rudisha | Career in Track

In 2005, David’s career as a professional athlete officially began. He was also being mentored by Brolm O’Connell at this time.

He worked as an Irish missionary and geography teacher at St. Patrick’s Iten School. Soon after his try in the 800m, David ran a two-lap race on a dirt track in 1.49.6 seconds. For a 15-year-old, it was thought to be a tremendous performance.

Furthermore, David won the 800m divisional world junior title in 2006.

Moreover, between 2010 and 2012, he was at his best and injury-free. David established a legacy in the 800m during this time.

At age 21, David also made history by being the IAAF World Athlete of the Year’s youngest winner.

In addition, on August 22, 2010, he beat the 800m World Record set by his predecessor Wilson Kipketer. During an incident at the ISTAF summit in Berlin, the record was harmed.

During this time, David Rudisha was at the top of his game and dominated many races.

In addition, he delivered a standout performance at the 2012 Olympics. Without the aid of a pacemaker, he outran his rivals and broke the previous record.

Africa’s Best Runner

One of the competition’s top performances was Rudisha’s at the 2016 Olympics. Following his success, David went on to win the Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro four years later, making him the first runner to do it since Peter Snell 50 years prior.

David ceased participating in 2018, despite his great accomplishment and lasting reputation. A bone issue was the reason for his brief hiatus from the sport.

Nevertheless, David Rudisha aspires to capture his third Olympic gold medal with the help of professional coaching and consistent preparation.

The following is a rundown of his career’s worth of professional accomplishments:

  • Set a new African record of 1:42.01 after his IAAD Grand Prix meeting win at Rieti, Italy. 
  • David defeated the 32-year-old record of Sebastian Coe at the 2010 IAAF Diamond league event with a run of 1:42.04.
  • Rudisha ran the 800m race in 1:41.51 on July 10, 2010, at the KBC Night of Athletics in Heusden, Belgium.
  • He broke Wilson Kipketer’s 800m World Record on August 22, 2010, with a time of 1:41.09 at the ISATF meeting in Berlin. 
  • In November 2010, David became the youngest athlete at the age of 21 to win the IAAF World Athlete of the Year award. 
  • He set an 800m record in the United States all comers with a time of 1:41.74 in 2012 at Icahn Stadium in New York City.
  • David developed a new record on August 9, 2012, for the 800m at the London 2012 Olympics. 
  • In June 2015, at the New York IAAF Diamond League meeting, David won the 800m race with a time of 1:43.58. 
  • David also defended his Olympic title with a time of 1:42.15 at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Makes his own record and breaks his own record.

As one of the fastest men alive, David broke his record that was set in 2010. He recorded 23.4 seconds for the first 200 and 25.88 seconds for the second.

In addition, he developed a critical 25.02 seconds for the third and 26.61. 

His record was well-known for the absence of pacemakers, which are not permitted at significant championships, including the Olympics. 

The previous person to set a World Record and win in the Olympic 800m event was Alberto Juantorena in 1976. 

Additionally, David became the first athlete as a world champion in an 800m event in the Olympics at that distance. 

Sebastian Coe, who held the 80m world record for more than 17 years, states,

“It was the performance of the Games, not just of track and field but of the Games.”

Further, he stated,

“Bolt was good; Rudisha was magnificent. That is quite a big call, but it was the most extraordinary piece of running I have probably ever seen.”

Rudisha had been in good shape coming into the race, having “clocked a staggering 1:42.12 minutes at high altitude in Nairobi during the Kenyan Olympic trials. After that, he had said ‘the race was nice and easy.”

You might also like to read about Sebastian Coe

Achievements and Highlights

The following is the list of medals won by David Rudisha throughout his career:

  • World junior championships gold medal (2006)
  • Inter-Continental Cup gold medal (2010) Diamond league overall winner for the 800m (2010)
  • Africa junior championship gold medal (2007)
  • World championship gold medal (2011)
  • African championship gold medal (2010)
  • Diamond league overall winner for the 800m (2011)
  • Commonwealth Games silver medal (2014)
  • Olympic gold medal (2012) 
  • World Championships gold medal (2015)
  • Olympic gold medal (2016)

David Rudisha | Auto Mishap

On August 24, 2019, David was involved in an automobile accident when his vehicle collided with a bus close to Keroka, Kenya.

The athlete was taken to a local hospital for treatment after the collision. The doctor reported that David was well and had only sustained minor wounds a few hours later.

Age, height, and weight of David Rudisha

David is a formidable opponent. He is 33 years old right now.

Despite his advanced age, he has managed to preserve his reputation in the relevant sport.

David has won multiple Olympic Gold medals for Kenya, making him well-known among young African sportsmen.

He is currently 6 feet and 3 inches tall and weighs about 76 kg. In addition, he continues to adhere to a strict diet and exercise schedule to keep himself physically fit.

Horoscope

David Rudisha’s zodiac sign is Sagittarius, according to astrology. In addition, he possesses a resourceful and courageous mentality due to being a Sagittarius.

Exercise Routine

David Rudisha has been active on the field with the workouts since his early years. In order to keep his form, he basically stretches a lot every day.

He also has a set agenda for the entire week. David spends the most of Mondays jogging, running, stretching, and doing core workouts. He works out for the track on Tuesdays.

The same goes for Wednesday, when he practices plyometrics, stretching, and running. In addition, he runs hard on Thursday and jogs, stretches, and drills on Friday.

Last but not least, David engages in endurance-based track training on Saturdays.

Sundays are entirely a day of rest.

Food Diet

David Rudisha does not endorse any protein drinks or supplements. He eats various types of pasta, steak, poultry, spinach, and other straightforward veggies.

He also maintains a healthy diet with little junk food and processed food. His diet consists of a carefully balanced combination of proteins, carbohydrates, and veggies.

David Rudisha’s wealth and earnings

David amassed a sizable wealth as a successful athlete throughout the course of his career.

He is thought to be worth $5 million. Sport, including his participation in the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championship, is David’s main source of income.

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Availability on Social Media for David Rudisha

David is active on social media sites like Twitter and Instagram. He currently has 88k Instagram followers in total.

The same applies to Twitter, where you can follow him with the handle @rudishadavid. On the social media site, he has more than 393 thousand followers.

David Rudisha | FAQs

Did David die in an accident?

No, he only suffered a minor injury in the incident and made a speedy recovery. 

What is the name of David Rudisha’s documentary?

The name of the inspirational runner’s documentary is “100 Seconds to Beat the World: David Rudisha Story.”

Does David Rudisha have a second wife?

No, he does not have a second wife, although he was once speculated to have an affair.

What is David Rudisha’s mile time?

According to David Rudisha, his longest mile run is 13 km, and as per the time, it was around 50 minutes.