"I want to make Lord Coe proud," the Kenyan said to a teleconference arranged by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), where he looked beyond next month to his goal of adding an Olympic medal to his World gold.

Having met and become friends with Coe (pictured below, second left), the chairman of London 2012 who, like Rudisha, held the 800m world record but whose Olympic titles came at 1500m, Rudisha is keen to give a man he has previously described as one of his heroes a performance to cherish in Stratford.

"My father [Daniel Rudisha] was at the Olympics in 1968 and won a silver medal [in the 4x400m relay] and now I want to bring home a medal so that we can have two medals in our house.

"I have watched videos of the races Wilson Kipketer and Sebastian Coe [where in], especially when they set the World records.

I like looking at those races from time-to-time, but they never won an Olympic gold medal at 800m, so if I was to do that then that would make things complete," added Rudisha, who also revealed that he will seek to emulate his father in another way by making himself available for Kenya's 4x400m relay team.

"In fact there were plans for me to run in the relay in Berlin [at the 2009 World Championships], maybe in the heats," he said.

"This might be the right time as it comes after my speciality.


"I have the flexibility now, I think I can do it."

However, his main priority is the 800m – and if he wins in London he would become the first man in this event to simultaneously hold the Olympic and World titles as well as the world record.

"This will be my first Olympics although, of course, I still have to get through the Kenyan Trials," he said.

"In 2008, I missed the [Kenyan] Trials and the whole season afterwards and it is not good when you watch people running and winning in the Olympics.

I have given priority and I will do anything to achieve my Olympics dream but I'm happy Wilfred Bungei won the title.

"I have always been having that dream that I can go to the Olympics and I have the dream of hearing the Kenyan national anthem as I stand on the podium.

"It would be a great feeling because winning at the Olympics is no small achievement.


"It's what I have always wished for.

"I hope that I do not get injured this year and if that happens, I will do all my best to win the Olympics title.

"I'm under a lot of pressure from everyone, starting with my friends in Kenya.

"Expectations are very high but I have learned how to cope with running in championship races.

Rudisha is ready for all eventualities in Doha, where he starts his campaign as defending Diamond League champion.

"I want to win the Diamond League for a third time," he said.  

"There will be a lot of good guys, many Kenyans, I know that.

"I also know Abubaker Kaki will be there but I don't know if he will run the 800m or 1500m.

"However, I don't think about one particular person or another.

"I train to be ready to handle any situation."


Another runner who might seriously test him is the young Ethiopian prodigy Mohamed Aman, who inflicted upon Rudisha his first 800m loss for two years in Milan at the end of last summer.

Aman won at the IAAF World Indoor Championships last month.

"I know he'll be coming back and having a lot of hope but maybe the defeat in Milan was a good thing for me as well, it triggered me to do better," Rudisha (pictured above, right, taking gold in the 800 metres final at the 2011 IAAF World Championships) said.

"Of course, I was disappointed to lose that race but I can see how it has made me stronger."

Rudisha shunned indoor running in favour of starting his year in Australia where he took part in 400m and 800m races at the Sydney and Melbourne Track Classics.

"I have never tried indoors before since due to my height and long strides, I might go there and pick [up an] ankle injury or back problems since it is hard for me to run well in the tight corners.

"It is good to have a break and that is why I got to Australia as part of my training and to test my shape and when I return, I usually know what to do."

He was speaking from his training base at St. Patrick's High School, Iten, where he works with fellow runners Augustine Choge, the World Indoors 3000m silver medallist and the 2008 Africa 5000m silver winner, Isaac Songok, under the renowned Irish coach Brother Colm O'Connell.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
August 2011: Mike Rowbottom - David Rudisha and Abubaker Kaki in praise of Seb Coe
July 2011: Rudisha and Kaki to play it again in London Diamond League meeting
November 2010: Rudisha and Vlasic crowned 2010 World Athletes of the Year
September 2010: World 800m record holder withdraws from Commonwealth Games
August 2010: Rudisha breaks world record for 800m again