Who holds the men's 800m world record?

David Rudisha holds the men’s 800-metre world record. The Kenyan ran 1:40.91 in the Olympic final at London 2012, a mark that remains the standard for the event.

Rudisha’s record race was extraordinary because he won from the front rather than relying on a late sprint. He controlled the pace, held off the field and became the first man to run under 1:41 for 800 metres. His winning performance also earned him the Olympic title.

The 800 metres combines speed and endurance. Athletes run two laps of a standard outdoor track, but unlike longer races, positioning and contact in the opening stages can be decisive. The event traditionally begins in lanes before runners merge toward the inside.

Wilson Kipketer, one of the listed alternatives, was Rudisha’s major predecessor in the record books. Kipketer held the world record before Rudisha improved it, which is why the two names are often confused. Sebastian Coe and Alberto Juantorena were also historic 800-metre champions, but neither holds the current record.