2021 World Under-20 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi believes he has the talent to conquer the athletics world despite being the first Luhya athlete to compete in the specialty.
Speaking in Monaco, where he received the men’s Rising Star award for 2023, Wanyonyi explained that, historically, people in his Luhya tribe “have not been people who can run”, adding:
“More people who can run the 800m are Kalenjin. But I am Luhya. It is not our culture. I am the first one to run the 800m in my tribe. My family is six boys and six girls. I am the fifth of 12 children. I am the only one in my family who can run.”
He added: “I have a talent to run. I like my job!”
The 19-year-old born in Siboti is a senior World Championships silver medallist.
He won the Diamond League title with a world-leading PB of 1:42.80 last year.
Wanyonyi who comes from a humble background, said running was the only way to save his family from poverty.
“I knew from way back that the only thing that could save my family from this difficult life was running,” he told Olympics.org. “That’s why I just focused all my energy on training.
