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Kenyan athlete David Rudisha won the gold medal in the men's 800-metre at the London Olympics on Thursday (August 9th), setting a world record with a time of 1 minute, 40.91 seconds.

"That was simply an unbelievable performance. David Rudisha showed supreme physical and mental confidence to run like that in an Olympic final," said Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, who is also a former record holder in the 800-metre race.

Rudisha is the first Olympic athlete to set a world record at the London Games. He was joined at the podium by silver medallist Nijel Amos of Botswana and bronze medallist Timothy Kitum, a fellow Kenyan.

"To come here and break the world record is something unbelievable," Rudisha said. "I was well-prepared this year and I had no doubt about winning. But I was waiting for perfect conditions to break the world record because I knew this year I was in the shape to run 1.40."

Rudisha's victory maintained a family tradition, as his father won a silver medal in the 4x400 metres relay in 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico.