Kenyan David Rudisha repeats as Olympic 800-meter champ, USA's Clayton Murphy gets bronze

RIO DE JANIERO — Kenya’s David Rudisha, the defending Olympic gold medalist in the 800 meters, captured gold again in the event at the Rio Olympics on Monday but fell short of the Olympic and world record he set four years ago in London.

Rudisha won in a time of 1:42.15, off his stunning 1:40.91 when he became the first person to go under 1:41 in London. But he won under less than ideal conditions at Olympic Stadium — a downpour during men’s 110 hurdles heats soaked the track.

"Running 1:42, it's just fantastic. I had no doubts before," Rudisha said. "The feeling in my body was good. It is great to win such a big competition, my second gold. It's so great. I am so excited. It is the greatest moment of my career."

Fellow countryman Alfred Kipketer set the pace early, only to fade as Rudisha turned it on with about 100 meters left.

Algeria’s Taoufik Makhloufi was second (1:42.61) and the USA’s Clayton Murphy, 21, won bronze with a personal best of 1:42.93.

American Boris Berian finished eighth. Berian had a controversial lead-up to the Olympics — a bitter battle with Nike over an apparel deal.

Berian’s sixth-month deal with Nike — one that included the right to match other offers — expired on Dec. 31. Berian signed with New Balance, and Nike filed a lawsuit, alleging breach of contract. Nike dropped the suit in June but U.S. track and field athletes must wear Nike at the Olympics.

But this was Rudisha’s race. On Friday, Rudisha said, “I'm in good form. There's no doubt about that, and I'm very confident because I'm finding my power of finishing, the last 100 (meters). So I think I'm in a position to control again.”

Born to run – his dad, Daniel, won silver in the 4x100 relay at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and is mother, Naomi — Rudisha trained in Kenya for a time with Irish missionary Colm O’Connell of Patrician Brothers.

The 2015 world champ in the 800, Rudisha had his best time of the season and became the first repeat at the Olympics in in the 800 since New Zealand's Peter Snell in 1960 and 1964.