Kenya’s track legend David Rudisha lands lucrative World Athletics job
16th February 2024
Rudisha is a double Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion over 800m. He is also the record holder over the distance.
- Rudisha will be the World Athletics ambassador for the upcoming Indoor Championship in Scotland.
- The World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 will be held from 1-3 March 2024.
- It will feature over 700 athletes from about 130 nations competing for medals across 26 disciplines.
Kenya’s middle distance legend David Rudisha has landed a
lucrative role on the global stage after being named as the World Athletics
ambassador for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24,
which will be held from 1-3 March 2024.
Rudisha, a double Olympic gold medalist and two-time world
champion over 800m, will return to the city of Glasgow in Scotland where he
competed in 2014 for the Commonwealth Games and earned silver.
Speaking after his appointment, Rudisha expressed his
delight in being given the job as he outlined his plans.
“I am looking forward to going back to Glasgow for this
major competition in our calendar. I am really excited,” he said.
“Sport is what has made me who I am today and anything to do
with sport, it makes me feel very happy. I am looking forward to meeting the
fans and promoting the sport.”
Play
here and stand a chance of winning the over 351 Million SportPesa Mega Jackpot
Rudisha has other fond memories of competing on UK soil; the
most iconic performance of his career – his world record-breaking performance
of 1:40.91 – came when winning Olympic gold in London in 2012.
Now aged 35, Rudisha is delighted to take up an ambassador
role for the first global championships of 2024.
“I really feel honoured,” said Rudisha, who competed at six
global championships during his career, winning gold at five of them.
“As an athlete, anything I can do to inspire younger athletes to win medals on the world stage really makes me feel special. The 2014 Commonwealth Games was very special, I have beautiful memories of my experience in Glasgow.
ALSO READ: Kenya’s Henry Rono who set four records in 81 days dies at 72
The people were very kind and supportive. I got silver in
that race, but it was clear that the crowd supported and cheered for every
athlete, regardless of the position they finished.”
As a double Olympic champion in the No.1 Olympic sport,
Rudisha knows just how important it is for athletes to get off to a strong
start this year ahead of the Paris 2024 Games.
“The Olympics is at the helm of any sport,” he said.
"To
participate at the Olympics means a lot. It's not always easy, so I wish
athletes the best as they work hard for this season and try to make their name
and write their history in this sport.”
ALSO READ: OPINION: Dennis Oliech's stuttering battle on the road to FKF
leadership
While he is looking forward to witnessing all the action in
Glasgow, understandably Rudisha’s eye will be drawn to one event in particular.
“The 800m of course is my favourite,” he said. “I’m also
looking forward to seeing the 400m, with the times they are posting already.
“Femke Bol, running 49 seconds in the early season indoors
is really amazing. We are looking forward to watching these athletes doing
their best on the world indoor stage.”
Taking place from 1-3 March, the World Indoor Championships will feature more than 700 athletes from about 130 nations as they compete for medals across 26 disciplines.