Monaco, July 2026 -Emmanuel Wanyonyi made his 1000m debut in sensational style, running 2:11.83 to break the long-standing world record at the Meeting International d’Athlétisme Herculis EBS in Monaco on Friday (10).
With that performance at the Wanda Diamond League meeting, the Olympic and world 800m champion took 0.13 off the world record of 2:11.96 set by his Kenyan compatriot Noah Ngeny in Rieti in 1999.
It was a night of record-breaking performances at the Louis II Stadium. As well as Wanyonyi’s historic mark, meeting records and some of the fastest performances of all time were achieved by Agnes Ngetich, Julien Alfred, Collen Kebinatshipi, Masai Russell and Marileidy Paulino. Meeting records also fell in the field through Miltiádis Tentóglou in a long jump contest of record depth and Mondo Duplantis, while Nina Kennedy set a world-leading Oceanian record of 4.95m in the pole vault.
Wanyonyi followed the pacemakers as the first, Patryk Sieradzki, reached 400m on world record pace in 50.95 as planned. The second pacemaker Louey Ouerrat hit 800m in 1:45.11 before Wanyonyi took over and stormed towards the finish, chased hard by 2022 world 1500m champion Jake Wightman.
Wanyonyi charged over the line in 2:11.83, Wightman followed him in 2:12.77 to move to fifth on the world all-time list and world and Olympic medallist Djamel Sedjati was third in 2:13.94 as the top six all dipped under 2:15.
“This was the first time I ran the 1000m and breaking the world record makes me so happy,” said Wanyonyi. “I want to thank the other athletes who pushed me to my limit.” (World Athletics)
