Two-time Olympic champion and world 800m record holder David Rudisha has been thrust back into the limelight after a two-year hiatus by his estranged wife Liz Naanyu who flagged him on social media for ‘frustrating’ her and their children.
In a rare public outburst from a previously guarded Naanyu on Tuesday night, the track star was tagged on a Facebook post bearing two images.
One photo, a close up of Rudisha with arms aloft in celebration after race, the other, is of the star squatting with the couple’s two children.
The photos are accompanied by the caption “David Lekuta Rudisha real, stop frustrating me with my kids. To my family my heart is heavy I can’t hold anymore. I love u all (sic).”
The post sparked panic among the athletics fraternity who are conversant with the estranged couples’ protracted woes.
Likes and comments swiftly swelled on the post before it was pulled down.
Nonetheless, the negative publicity has reminded the world of Rudisha’s long absence from the track.
The 29-year-old has avoided competitions and the public since the London IAAF World Championships in 2017.
Attempts to contact him on Wednesday were futile as the Adidas-sponsored athlete snubbed our calls and text messages.
He made few public appearances last year after People Daily ran a story about his whereabouts before recoiling into his cocoon.
Rudisha failed to participate in any competition last year despite promising to show up.
The long absence from the track and increasingly loud feuds with Naanyu have raised concerns over the state of mind of the 2012 London Olympics star performer.
Rudisha denied rumours of early retirement but has done little or nothing at all to prove otherwise.
His last public appearance was on July 7 at Kasarani Stadium when Kariobangi Sharks played English Premier League club Everton.
