Tshepiso Masalela after defeating the Olympic champion: Now is my moment

Botswana’s athlete Tshepiso Masalela has declared his readiness to dominate the world 800m stage after a convincing victory at the Diamond League in Rabat, where he edged out Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi. Tshepiso Masalela controlled the race from start to finish and showed his experience, crossing the finish line with the world’s number one time of the season.

He clocked an impressive 1:42.70 hin ahead of Britain’s Max Burgin and World Championship 800m silver medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who finished second and third respectively in 1:43.34 min and 1:43.37 min.

Following his victory in Rabat, Tshepiso Masalela said he is aiming for a gold medal at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, later this year.

Tshepiso Masalela reached the 800m final at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, but finished sixth. He also reached the final at the Paris Olympics, but finished seventh.

He now believes he has what it takes to surprise the likes of Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Marco Arop as he chases world glory, and judging by his impressive runs so far this season, his rivals will have to work harder if they want to beat him.

“I was confident in the race today. For someone to beat me, they would have to run 1:41, which I was ready to do. I’m very happy, I did what I had to do. That was the plan. I started the first lap well and no one was following me, so I decided to take the chance, follow the plan and ultimately win the race. This year I’m aiming for gold… God has been kind to these guys in the last few years, when I’ve been in the final. So now is my moment”, said Tshepiso Masalela, who also had a birthday after the race.