Photo: Erik van Leeuwen—GFDL
David Rudisha
- Born
- Dec 17, 1988 (37 years old)
- Birthplace
- Kilgoris, Kenya
- Events
- 800 m · 600 Metres
- Height
- 1.90 m
- Weight
- 76 kg
David Rudisha is a retired Kenyan middle-distance runner born on 17 December 1988 in Kilgoris, Kenya, who is the world and Olympic record holder in the 800 metres. He is the first and only person to run the 800 metres under 1:41, and he holds the three fastest times ever recorded in the event, each a world record when set.
Rudisha won Olympic gold in the 800 metres at both the 2012 London Games, where he set the world record of 1:40.91, and the 2016 Rio Games. He is a two-time World Champion (2011 and 2015), a two-time Diamond League champion (2010 and 2011), and a World Junior Champion (2006). He also claimed titles at the 2008 and 2010 African Championships and a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. He holds world bests in the 500 metres and the African record for the 600 metres. Rudisha won the IAAF World Athlete of the Year award in 2010 and three consecutive Track and Field News Athlete of the Year honors.
After retiring from athletics, Rudisha announced his candidacy for political office in Kenya in 2022. In 2024, he served as the World Athletics ambassador for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
As of Oct 27, 2026: 800 m 1:40.91 (#1 all-time), 600 Metres 1:13.10, 2017 season best 1:44.90 (Jun 10, 2017, Kingston (JAM)) · Olympic Games: 2 gold · World Championships: 2 gold · World record (800 m) · 37 years old
Personal bests
WA points calculator →Medals
| Competitions | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 2 | – | – | 2 |
| World Championships | 2 | – | – | 2 |
| Total | 4 | – | – | 4 |
Progression
| Season | Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 800m | 1:44.90 | – | Jun 10, 2017 | Kingston (JAM) |
| 2017 | 1000m | 2:19.43 | – | Jun 28, 2017 | Mestský Stadion, Ostrava (CZE) |
| 2016 | 600m | 1:13.10 | – | Jun 5, 2016 | Birmingham British Athletics GP, Alexander Stadium, Birmingham - Diamond Discipline |
| 2016 | 800m | 1:42.15 | – | Aug 15, 2016 | The XXXI Olympic Games |
| 2015 | 800m | 1:43.58 | – | Jun 13, 2015 | New York adidas Grand Prix, Icahn Stadium, New York, NY - Diamond Discipline |
| 2014 | 600m | 1:13.71 | – | Aug 24, 2014 | Birmingham British Athletics Grand Prix, Alexander Stadium, Birmingham - Diamond Discipline |
| 2014 | 800m | 1:42.98 | – | Jul 18, 2014 | Monaco Herculis, Stade Louis II, Monaco - Diamond Discipline |
| 2013 | 400m | 45.2h | – | May 3, 2013 | Nairobi (KEN) |