Two-time Olympic gold medalist David Rudisha, 33, survived a plane crash on Saturday in Kajiado county in Kenya. Rudisha and his team were returning to Nairobi after attending Maasai Olympics at the Kimana Wildlife Sanctuary when the small airplane crash-landed, according to a report from Mwakilishi.com.
Rudisha, who won Olympic gold medals in the 2012 and 2016 800 meters, was unharmed, according to the BBC. Another occupant, former 800-meter runner Stephen Ole Marai, was treated for rib injuries. Other survivors were treated for minor injuries at a hospital and discharged.
“It was a scary episode,” Rudisha told the Daily Nation. He recounted how about seven or eight minutes into the flight the engine of the small aircraft went silent.
“[The pilot] saw some clear space where he tried to land the plane, but one of its wings hit a tree as the plane started to spin before landing on the rocky field,” Rudisha said. “The pilot did an incredible job to keep the plane afloat and stable for long.”
According to Mwakilishi.com, the plane developed mechanical problems.
Rudisha was in a car accident in 2019 when his car collided with a bus in Nyansiongo.
Rudisha is the world record holder in the 800 meters with a time of 1:40.91—the only person to run under 1:41.
Heather is the former food and nutrition editor for Runner’s World, the author of The Runner’s World Vegetarian Cookbook, and a nine-time marathoner with a best of 3:23. She’s also proud of her 19:40 5K and 5:33 mile. Heather is an RRCA certified run coach.
