Wetang’ula hails Wanyonyi after record-breaking Monaco Diamond League win
By Mustafa Juma, July 12, 2025National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has joined the nation in celebrating Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, following his breathtaking victory in the 800 meters at the Herculis Diamond League in Monaco, France.
Wanyonyi clocked an extraordinary 1:41.44, setting a new world lead, a meeting record, and registering the 10th fastest 800 m time in history.
Taking to his official social media accounts on the night of Friday, July 11, 2025, Wetang’ula praised the young athlete for lifting the Kenyan flag high and continuing the country’s proud legacy in middle-distance running.
“Yet another beautiful moment for Kenya as Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi races to the top in the 800 meters Herculis Diamond League in Monaco, France, running a new world lead and meeting record. His 1:41:44 time marked the 10th fastest 800 m of all time. Congratulations, Wanyonyi,” Wetang’ula wrote on X.
Wanyonyi’s performance
Wanyonyi delivered a sensational performance on Friday night, July 11, 2025, at the Monaco Diamond League, powering to a world-leading and meeting-record time of 1:41.44 to clinch victory in the men’s 800m event.
Against a world-class lineup of Olympic and world championship medallists, including reigning world champion Marco Arop, Djamel Sedjati, Josh Hoey, and Tshepiso Masalela, Wanyonyi dominated from gun to tape.
He finished nearly six-tenths clear of second-place Josh Hoey, who clocked 1:42.01, with Sedjati third in 1:42.20.
“WANYONYIII, The Olympic champ, powers to the 10th fastest 800 m of all time with 1:41.44 to come out on top in Monaco, world lead, meeting record,” Athletics Kenya posted on X.
It was another brilliant display from Wanyonyi, who has begun the season well in preparation for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.
At just 20 years old, Wanyonyi now holds the 10th fastest time in history over 800 m. This adds to his remarkable resume, which includes the personal best of 1:41.11 set at the 2024 Lausanne Diamond League, tying him with Wilson Kipketer and placing him second on the all‑time list behind David Rudisha (1:40.91).
This was Wanyonyi’s third consecutive Diamond League victory this season, following wins in Stockholm and Oslo, the latter yielding a world lead of 1:41.95 in June.