Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Wyclife Kinyamal, and Koitatoi Kidali will aim to continue their 16-year winning streak in the men’s 800m at the Olympics, which begin on Wednesday.

Kenya’s reign began with Wilfred Bungei’s victory in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when he ran 1:44.65.

This legacy was cemented by world record holder David Rudisha, who won gold in London 2012 with a spectacular 1:40.91 (WR) and again in Rio 2016 with 1:42.15.

Most recently, Emmanuel Korir won the Tokyo 2020 race in 1:45.06, beating compatriot Ferguson Rotich (1:45.23) and Poland’s Patryk Dobek (1:45.36).

Wanyonyi, who won the men’s 800m in the Olympic Trials in the fourth fastest time in history (1:41.58), is enthusiastic but aware of the pressure.

“This will be my first Olympic appearance and there’s some pressure. Kenyans should pray for the three of us and support us as we aim to make history in Paris,” Wanyonyi shared post-trials.

However, Kenya has lost international gatherings this year. At the Paris meeting last month, Wanyonyi nearly lost to Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati, who established a new world record of 1:41.56, just ahead of Wanyonyi’s 1:41.58.

Kinyamal finished fifth in the same competition, clocking in at 1:42.08.

Last year in the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Canadian Marco Arop won in 1:44.24, followed by Wanyonyi in 1:44.53.

However, Wanyonyi is optimistic that with excellent health in Paris, he can turn the tide against the elite field.

“As long as I am in good health. I can promise Kenyans good results,” Wanyonyi remarked.

Wanyonyi holds the current world record in the road mile, with his time of 3:54.56 set at the Adizero Road to Records on April 27.

He is also the 2021 World U20 champion in the event with a Course record time of 1:43.76.

He has also bested the duo of Arop and Sedjati during last year’s Prefontaine Classic, storming to victory in 1:42.80 with Arop (1:42.85) and Sedjati (1:43.06) trailing.

Wanyonyi also outpaced them in last year’s Paris meeting, breaking the tape in 1:43.27 with Arop following closely in 1:43.30. Sedjati settled for position four in 1:43.40.

Kinyamal has emphasised the importance of teamwork for a Kenyan podium sweep.  “We are going to fight for our country and ensure we secure the podium all of us,” Kinyamal noted.

Historically, the U.S. is the only nation to have swept the men’s 800m podium at the Olympics, achieving this feat in 1904 St. Louis and 1912 Stockholm.