WORLD 800 METRE CHAMPION David Rudisha believes he can meet expectations and add a 2012 Olympic gold medal to his list of achievements.
The 23-year-old Kenyan is set to make his Olympic debut in London but despite his inexperience, Rudisha says he is not feeling any pressure.
The men’s 800m heats are scheduled for Monday and Rudisha has only one aim.
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“I can aim for gold because, right now, I hold the world record and I have no pressure,” Rudisha said.
“I am the world champion, so the only thing I’m looking for here is Olympic gold.”
Rudisha has held the 800m world record since August 22 2010, when he set a mark of one minute and 41.09 seconds in Germany.
Just seven days later, Rudisha went 0.08s faster at an athletics meet in Italy.
The world and African champion wants to go below 1:41 in London, which would better his world mark and make him the Olympic record holder.
“The most important thing is to win the gold medal,” Rudisha said. ”If everything is OK, and there are perfect conditions for a fast race, then I have no problem with breaking (the Olympic) record as I feel like I am in good shape.”
Rudisha is the youngest person to win the IAAF World Athlete of the Year award, which he achieved in 2010.
The Kenyan won last year’s 800m world title in Daegu, South Korea, by half a second ahead of Abubaker Kaki of Sudan, while Russia’s Yuriy Borzakovskiy finished third.
'The only thing I'm looking for here is Olympic gold' - Rudisha
WORLD 800 METRE CHAMPION David Rudisha believes he can meet expectations and add a 2012 Olympic gold medal to his list of achievements.
The 23-year-old Kenyan is set to make his Olympic debut in London but despite his inexperience, Rudisha says he is not feeling any pressure.
The men’s 800m heats are scheduled for Monday and Rudisha has only one aim.
“I can aim for gold because, right now, I hold the world record and I have no pressure,” Rudisha said.
“I am the world champion, so the only thing I’m looking for here is Olympic gold.”
Rudisha has held the 800m world record since August 22 2010, when he set a mark of one minute and 41.09 seconds in Germany.
Just seven days later, Rudisha went 0.08s faster at an athletics meet in Italy.
The world and African champion wants to go below 1:41 in London, which would better his world mark and make him the Olympic record holder.
Rudisha is the youngest person to win the IAAF World Athlete of the Year award, which he achieved in 2010.
The Kenyan won last year’s 800m world title in Daegu, South Korea, by half a second ahead of Abubaker Kaki of Sudan, while Russia’s Yuriy Borzakovskiy finished third.
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