Global Media want a piece of Rudisha

By Omulo Okoth in London

Watching David Rudisha field questions before the global media reveals an athlete who has come of age.

They were all sorts of questions by reporters from as far wide as The Sydney Herald, Washington Times, the London tabloids, wire agencies. He took them in their own stride and answered as comprehensively and eloquently as he possible could.

At the end of the 35 news conference, which had to be stopped due to time for another planned press conference by Usain Bolt, reporters were asking for more and Rudisha did not feel like stopping.

He was a father figure to Timothy Kitum, the world junior silver medalist, who picked bronze here behind Botswana’s Nigel Amos.

As the two panicked while answering questions, Rudisha was just smiling as he tackled one issue and another.

Rudisha, the first person to run a world record at the London Olympics and the first Kenyan to break a world record at Olympic Games said he can improve on the 1:40.91, which he did on Thursday inside a roaring Olympic Park Stadium here.

“If I get perfect conditions and I am in good health and with a good pace maker, I can do it again,” said Rudisha to roaring laughter from the crowded Media conference inside the Stadium’s Conference room.

Asked if it was a disappointment that he was knocked out of Beijing Olympics due to injury, he said it was probably a blessing in disguise.

“You know, I was young and immature then. Had I won the gold medal, which was possible, I may not have known how to deal with that. It may have given me problems.

“But, you see, the injury gave me time to mature and prepare well for the world record which I ran in 2010 and world title last year (in Daegu) and now an Olympic title and record,” said Rudisha as reporters nodded in agreement.

Howabout your family back home? “As you know, my father (Daniel Rudisha) won silver medal in 1968 Mexico Olympics. He also had wanted to break a 400m world record, but he could not do it.

“I know my father was watching me on television and he must be very proud of me for fulfilling a family ambition of an Olympic gold medal and world record,” he said.

“My father is my inspiration. Before I started the race, I was thinking of him. He was a great athlete and I always want to better his achievements. Today is therefore a special moment for our family,” he said.

And what did you eat today? “I don’t change my (culinary) routine. So as usual, I just ate something light. I took soup, rice and chicken and added yoghurt (being a Maasai),” he said.

ON the disqualification of Kenyan 4x400m relay team, where he was expected to race had they reached the final:

“That was unfortunate but sport is like that. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose under circumstances like those ones that saw our team crash with South African,” said Rudisha.

What was he expecting before the race? “I knew we would do a record, a stadium record, personal best or world record. I told (Kitum) my colleague here to expect a fast race because I was going to cross the half-way mark in 48 seconds.

When I approached the 500 metres mark, I knew I was cruising inside a world record and I increased the speed. In the final straight, my legs were becoming tired but I did not give up until I crossed the finish line,” he said.