World 800m silver medalist Emmanuel Wanyonyi held off Canada’s Marco Arop to deliver Kenya’s third gold in the final day of the Paris Olympics at the Stade de France on Sunday.
The duo duelled down the stretch in what was a lean, forehead and an eyelash contest but youngster Wanyonyi prevailed in a personal best time of 1:41.19 as the reigning world champion Arop settled for silver in a North-American record time of 1:41.20.
Wanyonyi’s heroics increased Kenya’s medal tally to eight; three gold, one silver and four bronze.
The David Rudisha-inspired Olympics rookie started in front as he often does, and at the bell Wanyonyi made his intentions known as he refused to relinquish the race’s grip and Arop, who had started at the back hard-kicked at the bend but the Kenyan had enough to hold him off to defend the two-lap race title for Kenya.
Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati, the man with the fastest time this year, finished with bronze.
