Kenya is famous for producing world-class athletes. Olympic and World 800m champion David Rudisha pictured

World champion and world record holder in the 800 meters David Rudisha yesterday won the 800m race at the Rio Olympics, to retain his title.

Rudisha, who finished the race in 1:42.16, became the first Kenyan to retain an Olympic title and also the first athlete since New Zealand’s Peter Snell in 1964 to retain the men’s 800m Olympic title.

The 27-year-old finished ahead of Algeria’s Taoufik Makhloufi and American Clayton Murphy.

“Running 1:42, it’s just fantastic, I had no doubts before. The feeling in my body was good. It is great to win my second gold. It’s so great. I am so excited. It is the greatest moment of my career.” said an elated Rudisha, who had missed the world championships in 2013 due to a severe knee injury.

Nicholas Bett, who made history for Kenya in the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing after winning the first ever gold medal in the men’s’ 400m hurdle, failed to impress at the Olympics after he crashed out of the first round of the men’s 400m hurdles.

Rudisha’s gold brings to two the number of gold medals Kenya has won so far in the Olympics after Jemima Jelagat Sumgong won the first gold medal in the women’s marathon.