David Rudisha is the world’s Olympic 800m record holder. Rudisha made international news headlines during the 2012 London Olympics after winning a gold medal. The 2010 IAAF World Athlete of the Year award winner was born in 1988 in Kilgoris Narok County in a family of seven siblings. Rudisha, now 28, started his athletics carrier in 2004 as 400m runner before joining the 800m race under influence his coach Colm O’Connell. However, if you thought you know David Lekuta Rudisha in and out, here are things you do not know about Kenya’s pride man.
- Rudisha’s ‘unprofessional’ coach
Colm O’Connell is the man behind Rudisha’s success. The ‘godfather’ of Kenyan runners owns 120 training camps. Unknown to the world, Colm had no coaching skills but due to his passion to see youths excel he started inspiring athletes, among them, Rudisha. He came in Kenya 45 years ago as catholic priest and then joined locals of Iten as a geography teacher at Iten Catholic School. He discovered Rudisha at 14.
- He featured in 2012 Olympics film
The 2010 Gold IAAF Continental Cup holder featured in the 2012 Olympics movie. The movie highlights Rudisha’s humble lifestyle, awards and his journey to become a champion. It also features the French sprinter Christopher, making them the only runners in the movie.
- Obsession with electronics
The 2012 Kenyan athlete of the year can even spend his last coin when he comes across a beautiful electronic gadget. Since childhood, Rudisha has been in love with these gadgets. He says he fell in love with electronic devices at a tender age.
- David Lekuta
Rudisha is widely known by his two names, David Rudisha. His middle name, Lekuta is a Maasai male name meaning born on a windy morning.
- Rudisha’s Talent is genetic
The Rudishas are all runners. Daniel Rudisha, the father to the 2015 Beijing world championship winner won silver medal in 1968 at the Olympics in 4 by 400 races. His mother was 400m hurdler. Rudisha’s father’s medal inspired him to take athletics to a notch higher. On his twitter post, Rudisha’s daughter impresses him whenever she joins him in the exercise.
- Arsenal fan
Rudisha loves the Gunners. The 2015 Beijing world championship winner started supporting Arsenal in 2004 after clearing high school. His coach is also an Arsenal diehard. He always admired visiting Emirates Stadium to watch live matches. Today, Rudisha is among few fans from Africa who have been lucky to watch Arsenal’s live matches.
- Rudisha the brand
After rising to the limelight as a celeb, Rudisha is now a brand. He has endorsed several products and is largely associated with Kiwi, a leading shoe polish.
- Rudisha the cop
David is a cop with the National Police Service. The 2012 London Olympic marathon record holder is among the traffic corps you bump in as you drive along the street of Iten since 2010.
- Rudisha; a husband and dad
For all the ladies still eying Rudisha, the bad news is that the 28-year old champ is married to Lizzy Nanyu and together they have a daughter, Charlene Seyano. When he is not on truck or sporting, he is with the family exercising or grazing.
- He once ran barefooted
Rudisha grew up in a typical Kenyan village where walking barefooted is a trend. With this background, the 800m record holder at some point trained barefooted and sometimes got blisters.
