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Rediff.com  » Sports » CWG: Amos shocks Olympic champion Rudisha to clinch 800m gold
This article was first published 9 years ago

CWG: Amos shocks Olympic champion Rudisha to clinch 800m gold

August 01, 2014 10:27 IST

Image: Nijel Amos of Botswana crosses the line to win gold ahead of David Rudisha of Kenya in the Men's 800 metres final at Hampden Park on Day 8 of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on Thursday
Photographs: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Botswana's Nijel Amos produced a stunning late surge to land the 800 metres gold medal and shock Olympic champion David Rudisha at the Commonwealth Games on Thursday.

Amos, who took silver behind Rudisha at London 2012, looked to be boxed in as the Kenyan led on the final straight but found a burst of pace in the last 50 metres to win in one minute 45.18 seconds.

Rudisha, who broke the world record on his way to Olympic gold, took silver with South African Andre Olivier snatching bronze on a wet night in Glasgow.

"It is a really great moment for me," the 20-year-old Amos told reporters after capturing Botswana's second gold in the history of the Games.

"Trailing in the last 100 I panicked a little bit because I looked up at the screen and thought 'Oh, I'm in a box'. When you're in that position it's not easy to get out but my training partner (Olivier) was behind me.

Complete coverage of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games

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'David congratulated me after the finish'

Image: Nijel Amos of Botswana celebrates winning gold in the Men's 800 metres final on Thursday
Photographs: Ian Walton/Getty Images

"He let me through and then followed me. I'm lucky I was there with someone who really cares about me."

Asked if he now thought he was the main man at 800 metres after beating such a renowned champion, Amos laughed.

"I don't think I'm the man," said Botswana's flag bearer at the opening ceremony.

"I will think I'm the man maybe when I break the world record.

"David congratulated me after the finish and said 'You're growing up’. I'm really happy to have someone like him in the race."

Complete coverage of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games

- ...

'Hopefully next year will be another great year for me'

Image: Silver medallist David Rudisha of Kenya, gold medallist Nijel Amos of Botswana and bronze medallist Andre Olivier of South Africa pose on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Men's 800 metres on Thursday
Photographs: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

The 25-year-old Rudisha had spoken of his desire to set another world record in Glasgow but looked short of his best throughout.

He has struggled to regain full fitness after a knee injury ruined his 2013 season and it showed as Amos charged past him to cross the line first.

"The crowd was really supportive. I was here a few weeks ago and won my race," Rudisha said, referring to the Diamond League meeting this month when he equalled the world's best time this year.

"I want to tell them not to lose hope because I'm coming back from the problems I've been going through. Hopefully next year will be another great year for me."

Complete coverage of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Source: REUTERS
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