‘God with us’: Was 800m athletics king Wanyonyi predestined to rise from herds-boy owing $3.86 to dominate the world?
By 2016, in Bungoma, a thought struck him like thunder: How long can I keep herding cattle? He decided it would be his last year. At Ksh2000 ($15.46) a month, he saved carefully and built a small flat-roofed house back home.
Kenya’s ‘Flying Bird’ Wanyonyi destroys strong field of past Olympic finalists to grab 800m Diamond League win
The highly anticipated men’s 800m, which featured all eight Olympic finalists from Paris, was expected to threaten David Rudisha’s world record of 1:40.91, which has stood since 2012.
Paris Olympics: Kenya’s Wanyonyi leads the way into open 800 metres final
Wanyonyi, silver medallist at last year’s world championship, was pushed at the end by American Bryce Hoppel but ensured he crossed the line first in 1:43.32 minutes.
