Kinyamal defends Commonwealth Games 800m title
Kenya's Wyclife Kinyamal celebrates winning and taking the gold medal in the men's 800m final athletics event at the Alexander Stadium, in Birmingham on day ten of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, central England, on August 7, 2022.
What you need to know:
- Kinyamal led at the bell in 55.56 seconds before holding up the field to win in one minute and 47.52 seconds in the final held at the Alexander Stadium on Sunday
- Peter Bol from Australia clocked 1:44.66 to settle second for silver as Ben Patterson from England went for bronze in 1:48.25
In Birmingham
Kenya's Wycliffe Kinyamal has successfully defended his Commonwealth Games 800 metres title.
Kinyamal led at the bell in 55.56 seconds before holding up the field to win in one minute and 47.52 seconds in the final held at the Alexander Stadium on Sunday.
Peter Bol from Australia clocked 1:44.66 to settle second for silver as Ben Patterson from England went for bronze in 1:48.25.
It was an impressive turnaround for Kimanyal, 25, who finished last in the final of the world championships in July.
"Eugene (the world final) was disappointing but it is just like any race," he said. "Because if today you win, tomorrow you lose.
"I guess because I failed there, I looked forward to coming here to defend my title."
Kinyamal, who dedicated the title to his four-year-old son Gift Odupoyi, said he will be ready to defend his title for the second time in 2026.
“But my main target now is to the World Championships next year and the 2024 Paris Olympics,” said Kinyamal.
“I now want the big ones and to lower my personal best.”
“It feels good after I didn’t perform well at the World Championships in Oregon. My body just locked during the final in Oregon. I just couldn’t move. I was fine now,” said Kinyamal, who ensured that Kenya sealed its 10th title at the Games.
Kenya has lost only four times in the men’s 800m at the Games.
