The two-time Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha has survived a plane crash in south-east Kenya three years after also escaping unharmed from a car wreck.
Rudisha, who won 800m gold at London 2012 and at Rio 2016, said it was a “scary episode” and pictures of the plane show it upside down in a field.
David Rudisha after surviving a crash landing in Amboseli pic.twitter.com/aFzB6exHAl
— Kenyans.co.ke (@Kenyans) December 11, 2022
“All was well close to seven or eight minutes into the flight when the engine of the plane suddenly went quiet,” Rudisha told the Daily Nation. “[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.”
Five other people were in the plane and all escaped with minor injuries when it came down on Saturday. “The pilot did an incredible job to keep the plane afloat and stable for long,” said Rudisha.
In August 2019, Rudisha was unharmed when his SUV collided with a bus on a highway near Keroka in his native Kenya.
Thanking the Almighty God for the gift of life.Saturday night around 1030Hrs I survived a tragic road accident at Keroka on my way home to Kilgoris after a head on collision with a bus plying Kisii Nairobi Route. I am fine with no injuries! Thank you 🙏🏻 for your prayers. pic.twitter.com/RZdwemLwXG
— David Rudisha (@rudishadavid) August 26, 2019
In addition to his two Olympic gold medals, Rudisha won world championships in 2011 and 2015 and the 1min 40.91sec he ran when winning the Olympic title in London – one of the undoubted highlights of the 2012 Games – remains the 800m world record.
UK Athletics made a £1.8m loss, their latest accounts show.
The figures for the year ending 31 March 2022 show UKA has just £431,000 in reserves, down from £2.2m the previous year. Income from major events increased to £3.2m from £1.4m, an increase of 124% after reinstatement of a full calendar of events following pandemic restrictions.
The UKA chair, Ian Beattie, said: “There are multiple reasons that UKA finds itself in this position, but in overall terms, the financial commitments made in recent years have exceeded the income that we have been able to generate, compounded by a significant shortfall in the commercial area.
“The severe cost challenges from operating during the pandemic and the impact on event income has remained a factor in the 2021-22 financial year.
“A number of changes in staffing structures and associated payments have also added to this pressure, as have significant unbudgeted but essential costs incurred in the safeguarding area.
“As a result, I as chair, our CEO Jack Buckner and the senior team now in place at UKA have been working hard on a number of areas to ensure that we turn around our financial position, rebuild our reserves and reverse the downward trend in our finances.
“It is important that I underline that these results and the plans we will put in place do not impact upon the performance team or the World Class Programme operations, which continue to be well supported by UK Sport and the funding we are provided from the National Lottery.”
Although he has not officially retired from the sport the 33‑year‑old has not raced since the summer of 2017.
