800 metres, Men

David Rudisha was the defending gold medallist and had been the dominant two-lap runner for over five years now. He had had some injury problems since London, but came to Rio favored to win his second gold medal, having also won gold at the 2011 and 2015 World Championships. His task was made easier when several medal contenders failed to make the final, including London silver medallist Nijel Amos of Botswana, and 2013 World Champion Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia.

The final was led out by Kenyan Alfred Kipketer, who passed 400 metres in 49.23, with Rudisha in second at 49.8. Rudisha went to the front just before 600 metres as Kipketer faded (he would finish seventh). Once in the lead Rudisha was never caught, defending his gold medal in 1:42.15, far off his Olympic and world record of 1:40.91, set at London, but sufficient nonetheless, and the world’s fastest time since the London final. Second went to Algerian Taoufik Makhloufi, who had moved to second at 600 metres and chased Rudisha in vain. American Clayton Murphy surprised by coming up for the bronze medal. He was fourth at the head of the stretch, and well back of third, but finished strongly. Rudisha became the first 800 metre runner to defend Olympic gold since Peter Snell in 1960-64, and only the fourth ever to defend in this event, also including Douglas Lowe (GBR) in 1924-28 and Mal Whitfield (USA) in 1948-52.