Tag Archives: David Rudisha

DAVID Rudisha stands on the Mondo track at London’s Olympic Stadium. The 23-year-old shifts his weight from his left foot to his right and back again, bending his knees as he does so. As he gently sways, his face is nothing but steely focus. “On your mark”. The 6ft 2in figure strides to the white line. His eyes are set with determination. Leaning forward, he stretches his left leg in front of him and he takes his position. Lane four – he’s sandwiched between his countryman Timothy Kitum in three and Botswana’s Nijel Amos in five. There is a delayed response from the crowd as the runners launch their attempts to earn Olympic medals. Rudisha takes the lead. Kaki is on his shoulder. Aman follows. It looks fast. It is fast. The tall man in Kenyan livery completes the first 400m in 49.28 seconds. The battle for second place begins as Rudisha pulls away. Aman is in second, Kaki third …

Olympic hero David Rudisha and his coach Cork man, Brother Colm O’Connell visited North Clare on Tuesday speaking at Ennistymon’s three secondary schools. The Kenyan is the fastest man in the world at 800m holding the current Olympic and World Records in the distance and the Olympic gold medal. In hushed tones, Mr Rudisha spoke to the assembled young people in Ennisymon CBS, Ennistymon Vocational School and Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon as part of a brief tour of the area visiting locals Neilus and Pat O’Doherty. Mr Rudisha spoke about the impact Br O’Connell had on him. “From the time I went into his training programme I knew I would win because I was in a good training programme and everything was there for me. I was being beaten at the age of seven. I knew disappointment but I worked hard and I knew that I could improve. Someone told me change what you can and accept what cannot be changed,” …