Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's 800 metres

The men's 800 metres at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held in four rounds at the Stade de France in Paris, France, between 7 and 10 August 2024. This was the 30th time that the men's 800 metres was contested at the Summer Olympics. A total of 48 athletes were able to qualify for the event by entry standard or ranking.

Men's 800 metres
at the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad
VenueStade de France, Paris, France[1]
Dates
  • 7 August 2024 (heats)
  • 8 August 2024 (repechage round)
  • 9 August 2024 (semi-finals)
  • 10 August 2024 (final)
Winning time1:41.19
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Emmanuel Wanyonyi  Kenya
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Marco Arop  Canada
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Djamel Sedjati  Algeria
← 2020
2028 →

Summary

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None of the previous Olympic podium returned. Emmanuel Korir had won in 2021 and also the 2022 World Championships, which marked a changing of the guard for this event. Silver in 2022 was Djamel Sedjati, while Marco Arop took bronze. Arop won in 2023 in a slow race after getting the jump on Emmanuel Wanyonyi and the field on the backstretch. Wanyonyi closed for second, Ben Pattison got third. Sedjati came in as the World Leader, but the development of that had several significant steps. At the Kenyan Olympic Trials at altitude in Nairobi, Wanyonyi won largely unchallenged by .8 of a second in 1:41.70, which made him then the #3 performer in history. A few weeks later, many contenders met at the 2024 Meeting de Paris. There Wanyonyi improved upon his time to 1:41.58 and finished second to Sedjati's 1:41.56, with Gabriel Tual close at 1:41.61, the first time three athletes broke 1:42 in the same race and they took over #3 through #5 on the all time list. Five days later, Sedjati improved to 1:41.46 at the 2024 Herculis meet in Monaco, with Mohamed Attaoui just missing 1:42 behind him.[2] This new generation was running fast.

The final started off with Max Burgin on the inside making up the stagger on the field early, reaching the break line first. Wanyonyi wanted the lead, accelerating from fifth at the break line to take the tangent to the turn with a clear lead. Tual followed, after being passed by Wanyonyi. to assume a position on Wanyonyi's shoulder, boxing Burgin. Hoppel came up behind Tual, the leaders held this positioning for 300 more metres until Tual tried to edge ahead of Wanyonyi on the final backstretch. From the last two position at the bell, Arop followed by Sedjati began to move forward on the outside while Burgin faded back. Arop had arrived at Hoppel as Wanyonyi sped up to shake Tual. It took the entire turn for Arop to get past Hoppel and arrive at Tual while running on the outside. By this point Wanyonyi had a two metre lead. Now everybody sprint the home stretch. The tall Arop gained a little ground on every step. Behind them, Hoppel and Sedjati were out in lane 2 and 3 running stride for stride past Tual. Then Sedjati surged ahead, Hoppel looking down at his legs trying to get them to move faster. As Arop closed down on Wanyonyi his progress seemed to stall. Wanyonyi leaned early for the line, Arop gave his best sprinter's lean for the line but didn't quite get there. Sedjati finished 2 metres back to take bronze from Hoppel by a metre.[3]

The winning margin, between winner Wanyonyi and 2023 World Champion Arop was 0.01 seconds, closer than any other men's 800 metres Olympic final, even closer than Dave Wottle's famous finish in 1972 vs Yevhen Arzhanov which was .03. Furthermore, four athletes; Wanyonyi, Arop, Sedjati, and Bryce Hoppel broke the 1:42 barrier in the same race, with Wanyonyi's winning time of 1:41.19 being 0.28 seconds off David Rudisha's 2012 world (and Olympic) record of 1:40.91. Wanyonyi became the #3 performer in history, Arop #4. Sedjati's better Monaco performance was demoted to #5 and Hoppel #7.

The race was run in a unique way for 800m, with Wanyonyi's first 400m being around 50.3 seconds, making his second around 50.9 seconds. Compared to Rudisha's world record splits of 49.28 and 51.63, Wanyonyi's splits were relatively even. Silver medalist Marco Arop's splits were in fact a negative split, with his first 400m being 51.1 and his second 400m being 50.1.

Background

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The men's 800 metres has been present on the Olympic athletics programme since the inaugural edition in 1896.

Global records before the 2024 Summer Olympics
Record Athlete (nation) Time (s) Location Date
World record   David Rudisha (KEN) 1:40.91[4] London, United Kingdom 9 August 2012
Olympic record
World leading   Djamel Sedjati (ALG) 1:41.46[5] Fontvieille, Monaco 12 July 2024
Area records before the 2024 Summer Olympics[6]
Area record Athlete (nation) Time (s)
Africa (records)   David Rudisha (KEN) 1:40.91 WR
Asia (records)   Yusuf Saad Kamel (BHR) 1:42.79
Europe (records)   Wilson Kipketer (DEN) 1:41.11
North, Central America
and Caribbean
(records)
  Donavan Brazier (USA) 1:42.34
Oceania (records)   Joseph Deng (AUS) 1:43.99
South America (records)   Joaquim Cruz (BRA) 1:41.77

Qualification

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For the men's 800 metres event, the qualification period was between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024.[7] 48 athletes were able to qualify for the event, with a maximum of three athletes per nation, by running the entry standard of 1:44.70 seconds or faster or by their World Athletics Ranking for this event.[7]

Results

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Heats

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The heats were held on 7 August, and started at 11:55 (UTC+2) in the morning.[1]

Heat 1

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Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Eliott Crestan   Belgium 1:45.51 Q
2 Marco Arop   Canada 1:45.74 Q
3 Peyton Craig   Australia 1:45.81 Q
4 Handal Roban   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1:46.00
5 Abdelati El Guesse   Morocco 1:46.91
6 Tumo Nkape   Botswana 1:46.99
7 Abubaker Haydar Abdalla   Qatar 1:48.42
8 James Preston   New Zealand 1:48.50
9 Abraham Guem   South Sudan 1:48.74 PB

[8]

Heat 2

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Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Gabriel Tual   France 1:45.13 Q
2 Mark English   Ireland 1:45.15 Q
3 Tshepiso Masalela   Botswana 1:45.58 Q
4 Jakub Dudycha   Czech Republic 1:45.62
5 Koitatoi Kidali   Kenya 1:45.84
6 Edose Ibadin   Nigeria 1:46.56
7 Mohamed Ali Gouaned   Algeria 1:47.34
8 Ali Idow Hassan   Somalia 1:48.72
9 Mohammed Dwedar   Palestine 1:54.83

[9]

Heat 3

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Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Emmanuel Wanyonyi   Kenya 1:44.64 Q
2 Catalin Tecuceanu   Italy 1:44.80 Q
3 Andreas Kramer   Sweden 1:44.93 Q
4 Adrián Ben   Spain 1:45.03
5 Ryan Clarke   Netherlands 1:45.56
6 Joseph Deng   Australia 1:45.87
7 Tibo De Smet   Belgium 1:46.03
8 Brandon Miller   United States 1:46.34
9 Yervand Mkrtchyan   Armenia 1:49.91 NR

[10]

Heat 4

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Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Djamel Sedjati   Algeria 1:45.84 Q
2 Elliot Giles   Great Britain 1:45.93 Q
3 Hobbs Kessler   United States 1:46.15 Q
4 Simone Barontini   Italy 1:46.33
5 Elvin Josué Canales   Spain 1:46.48
6 Pieter Sisk   Belgium 1:46.60
7 Peter Bol   Australia 1:47.50
8 Dennick Luke   Dominica 1:47.54
9 Musa Suliman   Refugee Olympic Team 1:49.61

[11]

Heat 5

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Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Ben Pattison   Great Britain 1:45.56 Q
2 Edmund Du Plessis   South Africa 1:45.73 Q
3 Wyclife Kinyamal   Kenya 1:45.86 Q
4 Benjamin Robert   France 1:45.92
5 Navasky Anderson   Jamaica 1:46.82
6 Tobias Grønstad   Norway 1:46.85
7 Mateusz Borkowski   Poland 1:47.50
8 José Antonio Maita   Venezuela 1:48.02
9 Chhun Bunthorn   Cambodia 1:53.31

[12]

Heat 6

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Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Mohamed Attaoui   Spain 1.44.81 Q
2 Bryce Hoppel   United States 1:45.24 Q
3 Max Burgin   Great Britain 1:45.36 Q
4 Corentin Le Clezio   France 1:45.42
5 Jesús Tonatiú López   Mexico 1:45.82
6 Tom Dradriga   Uganda 1:46.05
7 Kethobogile Haingura   Botswana 1:46.46
8 Slimane Moula   Algeria 1:46.71

[13]

Repechage round

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The repechage round was held on 8 August, and started at 12:00 (UTC+2) in the afternoon.[1]

Heat 1

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Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Kethobogile Haingura   Botswana 1:45.52 Q
2 Slimane Moula   Algeria 1:45.67
3 Corentin Le Clezio   France 1:45.72
4 Peter Bol   Australia 1:46.12
5 Tom Dradriga   Uganda 1:46.15
6 Dennick Luke   Dominica 1:46.81 NR
7 Edose Ibadin   Nigeria 1:49.09
8 Chhun Bunthorn   Cambodia 1:53.42
Abdelati El Guesse   Morocco DNS

[14]

Heat 2

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Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Jesús Tonatiú López   Mexico 1:45.13 Q
2 Adrián Ben   Spain 1:45.37
3 Pieter Sisk   Belgium 1:45.49
4 Handal Roban   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1:45.80
5 Navasky Anderson   Jamaica 1:46.01
6 Koitatoi Kidali   Kenya 1:46.37
7 Jakub Dudycha   Czech Republic 1:49.94
8 Yervand Mkrtchyan   Armenia 1:50.07
9 Musa Suliman   Refugee Olympic Team 1:50.11

[15]

Heat 3

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Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Simone Barontini   Italy 1:45.56 Q
2 Benjamin Robert   France 1:45.83
3 José Antonio Maita   Venezuela 1:46.44
4 Tibo De Smet   Belgium 1:46.59
5 Joseph Deng   Australia 1:48.58
6 James Preston   New Zealand 1:50.53
Abubaker Haydar Abdalla   Qatar DNS
Ali Idow Hassan   Somalia DNS

[16]

Heat 4

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Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Brandon Miller   United States 1:44.21 Q
2 Mohamed Ali Gouaned   Algeria 1:44.37 q, =PB
3 Tobias Grønstad   Norway 1:44.57 q, PB
4 Elvin Josué Canales   Spain 1:44.65
5 Ryan Clarke   Netherlands 1:44.70 PB
6 Mateusz Borkowski   Poland 1:45.27 PB
7 Tumo Nkape   Botswana 1:45.57
8 Abraham Guem   South Sudan 1:49.45
9 Mohammed Dwedar   Palestine 1:54.83

[17]

Semi-finals

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The semi-finals were held on 9 August, and started at 11:30 (UTC+2) in the morning.[1]

Semifinal 1

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Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Djamel Sedjati   Algeria 1:45.08 Q
2 Tshepiso Masalela   Botswana 1:45.33 Q
3 Catalin Tecuceanu   Italy 1:45.38
4 Ben Pattison   Great Britain 1:45.57 SB
5 Brandon Miller   United States 1:45.79
6 Mark English   Ireland 1:45.97
7 Andreas Kramer   Sweden 1:46.73
8 Jesús Tonatiú López   Mexico 1:50.38

Semifinal 2

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Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Marco Arop   Canada 1:45.05 Q
2 Gabriel Tual   France 1:45.16 Q
3 Wyclife Kinyamal   Kenya 1:45.29
4 Edmund du Plessis   South Africa 1:45.34
5 Elliot Giles   Great Britain 1:45.46
6 Hobbs Kessler   United States 1:46.20
7 Tobias Grønstad   Norway 1:46.37
8 Mohamed Ali Gouaned   Algeria 1:46.52

Semifinal 3

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Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Emmanuel Wanyonyi   Kenya 1:43.32 Q
2 Bryce Hoppel   United States 1:43.41 Q
3 Max Burgin   Great Britain 1:43.50 q, PB
4 Mohamed Attaoui   Spain 1:43.69 q
5 Eliott Crestan   Belgium 1:43.72
6 Peyton Craig   Australia 1:44.11 PB
7 Kethobogile Haingura   Botswana 1:44.95
8 Simone Barontini   Italy 1:46.17

Final

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The final was held on 10 August, starting at 19:25 (UTC+2) in the evening.[1]

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
  Emmanuel Wanyonyi   Kenya 1:41.19 PB
  Marco Arop   Canada 1:41.20 AR
  Djamel Sedjati   Algeria 1:41.50
4 Bryce Hoppel   United States 1:41.67 NR
5 Mohamed Attaoui   Spain 1:42.08
6 Gabriel Tual   France 1:42.14
7 Tshepiso Masalela   Botswana 1:42.82 PB
8 Max Burgin   Great Britain 1:43.84

[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Paris 2024 - Olympic Schedule - Athletics Archived 24 March 2024 at the Wayback Machine", Olympics.com. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  2. ^ "800 Metres - men - senior - all - 2024". Archived from the original on 11 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Men's 800m - Final race analysis" (PDF). Olympics. 10 August 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  4. ^ "All time Top lists – Senior – 800 Metres men", World Athletics, 29 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Season Top Lists – Senior 2024 – 800 Metres men Archived 5 June 2024 at the Wayback Machine", World Athletics, 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Records – 800 Metres men". World Athletics. 3 July 2024. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b Sean McAlister, "How to qualify for athletics at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained Archived 22 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine", Olympics.com, 20 December 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Men's 800m - Round 1 - Heat 1/6 results" (PDF). Olympics. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Men's 800m - Round 1 - Heat 2/6 results" (PDF). Olympics. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Men's 800m - Round 1 - Heat 3/6 results" (PDF). Olympics. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Men's 800m - Round 1 - Heat 4/6 results" (PDF). Olympics. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Men's 800m - Round 1 - Heat 5/6 results" (PDF). Olympics. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Men's 800m - Round 1 - Heat 6/6 results" (PDF). Olympics. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Men's 800m - Repechages - Heat 1/4 results" (PDF). Olympics. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Men's 800m - Repechages - Heat 2/4 results" (PDF). Olympics. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  16. ^ "Men's 800m - Repechages - Heat 3/4 results" (PDF). Olympics. 8 August 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Men's 800m - Repechages - Heat 4/4 results" (PDF). Olympics. 8 August 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Men's 800m - Final results" (PDF). Olympics. 10 August 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.