Emmanuel Wanyonyi is a renowned Kenyan middle-distance runner who specializes in the 800 m event. The youthful rising star is also the road mile world record holder set on April 2024 at Herzogenaurach, Germany. Moreover, he is the 2023 World Athletics men’s Rising Star of the Year.
He made his breakthrough at the 2021 World U20 Championships in Nairobi where he won gold and as well set a championship record. During the 2022 World Athletics Championships held in Eugene, the then 18 year-old Wanyonyi finished fourth in the 800 m event. 2023 proved the most fruitful year for Wanyonyi so far as he won the Diamond League, gold at the World Cross Country Championships and silver at the World Championship.
In April 2024, Wanyonyi broke the world road mile record in Herzogenaurach as well as setting a personal best of 1:4158 to become the fourth fastest 800 m runner in history at Paris Diamond League meet.
Age and Birthday
Emmanuel arrived in the world on 1 August 2004 in Saboti, Trans-nzoia Country in Kenya. He is 20 years old as of 2024.
Height
The athletics prospect is approximately 178 cm (5 feet 10 inches) tall.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi Family
Wanyonyi comes a humble background and he is the fifth born in a 11 sibling family.
Life took a turn the worse in 2018 when his father passed on leaving solely the mother with a responsibility raising the large family.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi Career
Early life
Coming from a poor household, Wanyonyi had to drop out of school at age 10 and work as a herds boy to survive. Since he had passion in athletics from an early age, he would at times run round a local school track. It is here his potential was noted by a teacher who facilitated his return to school. Although Wanyonyi did not come from a family of runners, knew from an early age that athletics would be his key for the door to a better and bright future. He was outstanding across numerous events from 400 m to 5000 m.
Through diligence in training his progress ameliorated in his days at Kosirai high school. It is worthy to mention that the school has produced other established athletes such as Mathew Kisorio and Conseslus Kipruto.
In 2007, Wanyonyi met Janeth Jepkosgei a world champion in 800 m who was doing mentorship and training of young talents. She would later advise Wanyonyi to specialize in 800m event and even connected him to her former coach.
Youth level and breakthrough: 2021
Emmanuel made his international debut at the age of 17 at the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships held in August 2021 in Nairobi, Kenya. His performance was overly prominent as he won the gold medal and set a championship record after clocking 1:43: 76.
Senior level: 2022-present
He debuted in the senior level in 2022 and achieving podium finishes in both national and international races of his speciality. However, at the 2022 World Athletics in Eugen, U.S.A, he finished fourth narrowly missing the podium. During the World Cross Country Championships held in February 2023 in Bathurst, Australia, Wanyonyi was part of the Kenyan mixed relay team that won gold. Furthermore, at the August 2023 World Athletics in Budapest, Hungary he took home the silver medal in 800m. Wanyonyi also won four Diamond League meetings which as well included the final at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene.
In April 2024, he stopped the clock at 3:54.56 to break the world road mile record in Herzogenaurach, Germany. During the 2024 Athletics Kenya Olympic Trials, Wanyonyi became Kenya’s third fastest in history over 800 m (behind David Rudisha and Wilson Kipketer) after clocking 1:41.70.
At the 2024 Paris Diamond League meet in July, he finished second behind Algerian Djamel Sedjati to achieve a personal best of 1:41.58. Consequently, Wanyonyi became the fourth fastest 800 m runner in history.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi Achievements, Awards and Medals
Achievements
- Highest world ranking: First (800 m, 2023).
- Personal bests: 800 m: 1:41.58 (Paris 2024), Road Mile: 3:54.56 World Record (Herzogenaurach 2024).
Awards
- World Athletics Rising Star of the Year 2023: Men
Medals
Junior level
- World U20 Championships: Gold 800 m (2021 Nairobi)
Senior level
- World Championships: Silver 800 m (2023 Budapest)
- World Cross Country Championships: Gold Mixed relay (2023 Bathurst)
- Diamond League: Champion 800 m (2023)
Emmanuel Wanyonyi Net Worth
The Kenya athletics prodigy has an estimated net worth of $1 million as of 2024.