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David Rudisha, in New Delhi, on Friday.
Picture by Ramakant Kushwaha |
New Delhi: Olympic champion and world record holder David Rudisha said on Friday that winning the gold medal in London last month was the finest moment of his career.
The 800m champion from Kenya, who is currently in the capital as the event ambassador of Airtel half marathon, said: “Winning the gold medal at the Olympics was the best moment of my life. I had the world record and World Championship to my name. This was the only thing missing, so I really wanted to win it.”
Asked what strategy he adopted to break his own world mark, Rudisha said: “Before the start of the final race, I was actually planning to go for a 1:41, that too without a pace-setter. When I won, I didn’t know that I had broken my own world record.
“I pushed really hard in the back straight during the race which I think helped me get the world record. I told my manager during the warm-ups that if I finish the first 400m in 49 seconds, I can push in the last 400 to finish the race in 1:41 minutes,” said the Kenyan.
Rudisha said he was a good friend of world champion sprinter Usain Bolt and was ready to run against the Jamaican. “We can run for fun… Many people are talking about a possible race against Bolt but let’s see. He is a very fast sprinter. I think there is a 50-50 chance. He is quick in 100m and 200m and really is unmatchable. But over the distance I hold the edge,” he said.
Rudisha’s father, Daniel, won the silver in the 4x400 metres relay in the 1968 Mexico Olympics. “He had remained my inspiration all through my running career.”
A cricket fan, Rudisha is watching the ongoing World T20 championship in Sri Lanka. “I think India are a good team and they will do well. I support Kenya but as you know we are not a great cricket team.”
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