Wilson Kipketer

The 24-year-old Danish-Kenyan Wilson Kipketer, like many other sports stars, said that the crowd at the Stockholm Stadium is fantastic and that the classic arena is the perfect place for perfect performances. On July 7, 1997, Kipketer broke Englishman Sebastian Coe’s 16-year-old world record in the 800 meters in front of 15,500 cheering spectators. His time was 1.41.73. Afterwards, reporters wanted the supreme victor’s own words on the race, but his answer was inscrutable. “You saw the race yourself, write about it. What can I say?” When the press asked for more thoughts on the subject, Kipketer said he was not happy but satisfied. Indeed, after some reflection, he suddenly claimed that this day was perhaps the happiest of his life! At the time, Kipketer was considered the best track and field athlete in the world, which he proved later that summer in 1997 with a World Championship gold medal in the 800 meters and two world records in the event. Kipketer was undefeated at his favorite distance for three years, which he dominated for a decade. Kipketer’s world record in Cologne later in the summer of 1997, 1.41.11, stood for 13 years.