Halimah sealed Uganda’s first 800m World Gold medal
The women’s 800m saw Uganda’s first 800m gold medal in the world championship as Halimah Nakaayi won the gold during the IAAF World Championship before the dance starts.
Halimah Nakaayi (UGA) – gold
On whether her gold medal was a surprise:
“I expected it because I have spent a long time preparing for it. Whatever happened in the past I have been preparing for this with a big team. They have helped me to do this in a colourful way.”
On the absence of Caster Semenya (RSA) and Francine Niyonsabo (BDI) from Doha 2019:
“I always believe in change. Once a change is made I just focused on my race and the competitors here. I can’t think abour Caster and the others.”
On going from eighth at the Birmingham Diamond League and third at the African Games to becoming world champion:
“In every competition I have been learning how to do it. In Birmingham I was in good shape but I made some mistakes. But there is always a team round me. They sat together and they revised my mistakes.
“When I went to the African Games I was in good shape But I got bronze because I still made mistakes. I slowed down in the first lap and I ended up getting bronze.
“So we revised the mistakes again and kept on focussing higher and higher. I am so very grateful to have this medal.’”
Raevyn Rogers (USA) – silver
On how she came from down the field with 150m to go to take silver:
“I just had to really be patient. Running on the same track in May helped me to test the waters and learn some things asbout running on this track. I was able to carry that experience into this week.
“Also through the rounds helped me work out how I wanted to form my race. That helped contribute to my last 150m.”
On the absence of Caster Semenya (RSA) and Francine Niyonsabo (BDI) from Doha 2019:
“I feel it hasn’t directly affected me because there are other competitors who are on their level as well, or still ahead of me. So my focus is on trying to make my way to the top and getting as close as I can. It’s not as if I was able to run as fast as Caster. Other runners were still ahead of me.”
On setting a world age 12 best whe she was a child:
“At 12 I don’t think I would have been able to expect this to happen so quickly. I feel very humble to even be in this position and to have this opportunity.
“The whole experience has been unreal to me. I haven’t really channelled everything that’s happening yet. I tried to keep that same ambition I had then, to go after it and aim hard.”
Ajee Wilson (USA) – bronze
On whether her race strategy went to plan:
“The first quarter went to plan. I didn‘t want it to be as slow as in the first two rounds, 59 or 60 [seconds]. I felt good through 500m, and picked it up with 250m to go.
“In the last 50 or 60m that was all I had. It was just about trying to make it to the line.”
On whether the sport has been cleaned up in recent years:
“I think that’s what the hope is. I guess as time goes on they’ll be able to go back and re-test samples. It’s good that at least athletes can now receive the medals from past championships they should have had at the time.”
On the absence of Caster Semenya (RSA) and Francine Niyonsabo (BDI) from Doha 2019:
“Every race is different. For me it’s just about focusing on who’s on the line, and on what my goals are in this race regardless of who’s there toeing the line.”
