Amos, Rudisha to relive 2012 Olympic moment
Spira Tlhankane | Friday July 24, 2015 13:15
The two face each other at a Diamond League race in London on Saturday. Amos became the first Motswana to win an Olympic medal while Rudisha set a new 800m record clocking 1:40.91.
Ever since that time, the two have become arch-rivals and are set to intensify their competition once again during the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.
The two met recently in a Diamond League race in Lausanne and the 21-year old Amos claimed yet another victory against the Kenyan.
Amos will enter the race after a shock second place finish in Monaco last Friday. As for Rudisha, he has not fully recovered after being devastated by a succession of injuries. The London leg of the Diamond league will ignite sparks as Amos sits at the top with 10 points followed by Rudisha with six points.
The race will be counted among the main attractions and the world record holder will want to reclaim his throne in London. Since 2012, the last five encounters between the two have been won by Amos and Rudisha will hope to inspire a comeback from the same stadium that motivated the ‘the greatest 800m race in history’.
African 400m record-holder, Isaac Makwala will also be action on Saturday hoping to replicate his recent amazing form. The local sprinter will face tough competition from South Africa’s Wayde Van Niekerk who smashed his African 400m record with 43.96 in Paris last month. However, Makwala reclaimed the record 24hours later with a run of 43:72.
All eyes will be on Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt who will be returning to the scene of his triple Olympic victory. This will be Bolt’s first competitive race since winning the New York 200m race on June 13.
Bolt pulled out from IAAF Diamond League meetings in Paris and Lausanne due to a pelvic injury. InBolt’s absence, USA sprinter Justin Gatlin has ruled the roost in world’s 100m sprint.