Exclusive: Emmanuel Wanyonyi Sets Sights on World Championship Gold in Tokyo

At just 20 years old, Emmanuel Wanyonyi has achieved what most athletes only dream of in a lifetime. 

The Kenyan 800m sensation has emerged as a force to reckon with, already an Olympic champion, World U20 gold medallist, Diamond League champion, and a World Athletics award winner.

As the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo approach, Wanyonyi is setting his sights on one of the few accolades missing from his glittering résumé: the senior World Championships title.

Speaking to SportsBoom.com, the down-to-earth Wanyonyi noted that his main focus is on the global showpiece in Tokyo come September.

“I am preparing for the World Championships, and everybody will come prepared, so I am also getting ready. But so far, the season is showing me that this year’s preparations were top-notch,” Wanyonyi offered. 

A meteoric rise

Wanyonyi’s journey has been nothing short of meteoric. In 2021, he captured the world’s attention when he clinched the World U20 title in Nairobi, setting the stage for a remarkable transition to senior competition. 

His smooth, powerful stride, tactical brilliance, and fearless finishes have since become his trademarks.

In 2023, he was honoured with the Men’s Rising Star award at the World Athletics Awards, capping a season where he not only dominated the Diamond League circuit but also anchored Kenya’s mixed relay team to victory at the World Cross Country Championships.

Wanyonyi’s most notable mark came at the Lausanne Diamond League in 2024, where he ran a stunning 1:41.11 in the 800m, the second-fastest time ever recorded over the distance. 

That performance placed him just two-tenths of a second behind David Rudisha’s longstanding world record of 1:40.91, set at the 2012 London Olympics.

Chasing Rudisha’s record

Since Rudisha's world record, no athlete has come closer than Wanyonyi. 

His Diamond League performances this year have solidified his place among the sport's elite. 

On June 12, he stormed to a world lead of 1:42.78 in Oslo, then improved his time to 1:41:95 three days later in Stockholm. 

On July 11, he stepped it up again, clocking 1:41.44 in Monaco, a time that earned him the title of 10th fastest 800m runner in history. It was after his Monaco exploits that he finally declared interest in breaking Rudisha’s record.

Just over a week after his Monaco heroics, Wanyonyi took to the track at the London Diamond League, where he once again showed consistency with a 1:42.00 victory. 

Earlier in the season, he had placed third in Rabat behind Botswana’s Tshepiso Maselela, who ran a world-leading 1:42.69.

That performance, though not a win, proved crucial in pushing Wanyonyi to dig deeper. He has shown both mental toughness and remarkable stamina in a season where sub-1:43 times have become the new standard.

“The most important thing for me right now is to keep getting ready and training. I am sure everything will be okay,” he told SportsBoom.com. 

Versatility beyond 800m

While 800m remains his core event, Wanyonyi has not shied away from testing his limits in other distances. 

At the Grand Slam Series in Kingston, Jamaica, he stunned fans by winning the men’s 1500m in 3:35.18, a race he entered more for experience than victory. He followed that up with a second-place finish in the 800m at the same meet, timing 1:46.44.

The youngster is not new to 1,500m races, having run it while in high school. He warmed up for the Grand Slam Track with a victory at the third Athletics Kenya (AK) Track and Field Weekend Meet in Kapsabet.

He then competed in the Adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany, where he took on the rarely contested road mile and delivered a phenomenal 3:52.45 finish,  just nine seconds shy of Hicham El Guerrouj’s 3:43.13 world record.

Road to Tokyo

Wanyonyi will land in Japan for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo with redemption in mind. At the 2023 edition in Budapest, he narrowly missed gold, finishing second behind Canada’s Marco Arop. 

The defeat stung, but it has fueled his hunger for the top podium spot.

“Tokyo will be very competitive. The likes of Marco Arop will be coming to defend his title, and he will come prepared. I will also be looking to claim a medal,” he said.

He will be joined by fellow Kenyan talents Nicholas Kebenei and Kelvin Loti in the 800m event. Together, they will aim to dominate the distance. While he is optimistic of a 1-2-3 finish for Kenya, Wanyonyi also cautioned his teammates.

“800m times have gotten faster. You can run 1:42 and still be in position 10. I would like to urge the team that will be with me in Tokyo to keep pushing so that we can all get to the final. It will mean that the probability of getting a Kenyan podium sweep is on the cards,” Wanyonyi urged.

The mental game

Despite his physical dominance, Wanyonyi is well aware that mental preparation will be key in Tokyo.

“Everybody will come prepared. So for me, it’s not just about the times or form; it’s about getting my mind in the right space, staying calm, and executing when it matters."

A nation’s hope

He is aware that he carries the hopes of a nation. Wanyonyi has not forgotten his roots or the support that has brought him this far. He delivered a heartfelt message to his supporters back home.

“My message to Kenyans is to continue supporting us and cheering us all through because this season is very complicated, and Tokyo will be very competitive,” he concluded.