LONDON (AP) — World 800-meter champion David Rudisha is eyeing a double at the London Olympics as he is likely to appear for Kenya in the 4×400-meter relay as well — just to keep it in the family.
Rudisha starts as favorite in his marquee event Thursday, and intends to run the relay the next day — an event his father, Daniel Rudisha, won silver in at the 1968 Olympics.
“Hopefully after my event, I will be ready,” Rudisha said Saturday. “I am more flexible this year, the Olympics are my main task. I am looking forward to compete in 4×400.”
Rudisha, who holds the world 800-meter record of 1 minute, 41.01 seconds, has competed in the 400 before but never in the relay.
“I do only 800 training, but I can get to 45 seconds (in 400) because of the speed and the talent I have,” he said. “My father inspires me, he was an Olympian. I always knew I had the talent because I have the genes. I watched him run on YouTube, it’s exciting.”
Obviously Rudisha will be gearing up for the 800 above all. The event starts Monday with the final scheduled Thursday.
Rudisha’s mission in London has one clear goal — winning the final. The 23-year-old Kenyan said he won’t worry about his time as long as he crosses the finish line first.
“Gold is gold, even if you win in two minutes,” he said, smiling. “The Olympics are more special than anything. Once you have that title, you have it for the rest of your life.”
With the track at the Olympic Stadium proven to be very fast, Rudisha could challenge his own world record — or at least the 16-year-old Olympic record of 1:42.58 by Vebjorn Rodal of Norway.
Achieving that would be “just a special gift” as only winning matters to Rudisha in his first Olympics after missing out on the 2008 Beijing Games because of injury.
“The most important is to go for the gold medal,” he said. And a world or Olympic record? “Maybe, if everything is OK and it’s a fast race. I am in good shape. I arrived Tuesday and had some good practice.”
Not necessarily at the Olympics, but Rudisha was expecting to improve his own best mark anytime this year.
“I am working hard in training,” he said. “1.41 is the target, that is what we are looking for. Hopefully we get there by the end of the season.”
