Oslo Diamond League: Emmanuel Wanyonyi upbeat ahead of competitive showdown
By Joel Masibo, June 10, 2026Ahead of the 2026 Oslo Diamond League meeting, Kenya’s 800m star Emmanuel Wanyonyi has expressed confidence in his preparations while also revealing a personal milestone that has added to his happiness ahead of the highly anticipated race on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Norway.
The Olympic champion is set to line up in Oslo for the second time and believes the fast track at the Norwegian venue provides the perfect platform for another strong performance.
Speaking during a pre-race press conference on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, Wanyonyi said he was delighted to return to Oslo, describing the track as one that suits fast times.
“This is my second time running Oslo, the track is so fast so I’m happy,” Wanyonyi said.
The 20-year-old also disclosed that he recently became a father for the first time, a development that has boosted his mood heading into the Diamond League contest.
“I was in Rabat and was supposed to be in Stockholm, but my wife gave me my first child four days ago,” he revealed when asked about his cheerful demeanor.
Wanyonyi, who has emerged as one of the world’s leading 800m runners, said his training has undergone some adjustments as he continues to build towards peak performance. He noted that he has been covering approximately 160 kilometres per week, mainly at high altitude, while increasingly focusing on speed endurance.
“I’ve been training at 160km per week and most of the time I train high up in the mountains. I’ve started to build my speed endurance so now I’m focusing on the speed and reducing the long runs,” he explained.
Future plans
Despite his dominance over two laps, Wanyonyi hinted that he may eventually venture into longer distances. The Kenyan star revealed that he has always followed various track and field disciplines and hopes to test himself in road racing in the future.
“Before I became an athlete, I enjoyed the marathon races and other track events. Maybe one day, I will try other events. I would like to do the half-marathon one day,” he said.
Looking ahead to Wednesday’s race in Oslo, Wanyonyi indicated that his strategy will depend on how the race unfolds but insisted he is ready to push hard if conditions allow.
“If I can find myself in front, that will be good, hopefully my body will respond nicely, and I will go for it,” he stated.
The Kenyan sensation also offered an optimistic view of the future of men’s middle-distance running, suggesting that the sport could continue to break barriers in the coming years.
“I can say that I believe anyone can run under 1:40 in a few years from now, as long as body’s responding, I can run fast,” he said.
Wanyonyi further hinted that he could eventually move up in distance, though he maintained that discussions about future championship plans remain premature.
“Maybe these guys will push me into the 1500m and it’s too early to talk about the Commonwealth Games,” he added.
The upcoming Bislett Games in Oslo will bring together an elite group of athletes, including seven reigning or former Olympic gold medallists and twelve world champions. Collectively, the competitors have amassed more than 70 medals from the Olympic Games and World Championships.