2011 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 800 metres
The Men's 800 metres at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Daegu Stadium on August 27, 28 and 30.
The first semi-final went out fast, with a bunch finish. While Abubaker Kaki came into the event as one of the favorites, he had to qualify to the final by time as the fastest 3rd place. Both time qualifiers came from the first semi. The second semi was the opposite kind of race as kickers Nick Symmonds and Yuriy Borzakovskiy almost acted as a team to run from the front and slow the pace. The two almost formed a wall down the home stretch that frustrated the runners behind them, achieving the two slowest qualifying times into the final. The third semi final was favorite David Rudisha taking control of the race, only accelerating enough to make sure nobody passed him.
Rudisha won the gold medal after leading the race from the start. Behind him through most of the last lap, surprisingly was come from behind specialist Borzakovskiy, who was himself out-kicked by Kaki just before the finish for the silver medal.
Medalists
Records
Prior to the competition, the following records were as follows.| World record | 1:41.01 | Rieti, Italy | 29 August 2010 | |
| Championship record | 1:43.06 | Rome, Italy | 1 September 1987 | |
| World leading | 1:42.61 | Monaco | 22 July 2011 | |
| African record | 1:41.01 | Rieti, Italy | 29 August 2010 | |
| Asian record | 1:42.79 | Monaco | 29 July 2008 | |
| North, Central American and Caribbean record | 1:42.60 | Koblenz, West Germany | 28 August 1985 | |
| South American record | 1:41.77 | Cologne, Germany | 26 August 1984 | |
| European record | 1:41.11 | Cologne, Germany | 24 August 1997 | |
| Oceanian record | 1:44.3 | Christchurch, New Zealand | 3 February 1962 |
Qualification standards
Schedule
Results
Heats
Qualification: First 3 in each heat and the next 6 fastest advance to the [|semifinals].| Rank | Heat | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes |
| 1 | 3 | Abubaker Kaki | 1:44.83 | Q | |
| 2 | 3 | Mohammed Aman | 1:45.17 | Q | |
| 3 | 3 | Alfred Kirwa Yego | 1:45.50 | Q | |
| 4 | 5 | Kléberson Davide | 1:46.06 | Q | |
| 5 | 5 | Andrew Osagie | 1:46.08 | Q | |
| 6 | 2 | Yuriy Borzakovskiy | 1:46.14 | Q | |
| 7 | 5 | Adam Kszczot | 1:46.16 | Q | |
| 8 | 3 | Luis Alberto Marco | 1:46.19 | q | |
| 9 | 4 | David Rudisha | 1:46.29 | Q | |
| 10 | 3 | Moussa Camara | 1:46.38 | q, NR | |
| 11 | 5 | Sajjad Moradi | 1:46.39 | q | |
| 12 | 1 | Nick Symmonds | 1:46.54 | Q | |
| 13 | 2 | Jackson Kivuva | 1:46.57 | Q | |
| 14 | 1 | Andreas Bube | 1:46.64 | Q | |
| 14 | 5 | Mohammad Al-Azemi | 1:46.64 | q | |
| 16 | 2 | Antonio Manuel Reina | 1:46.66 | Q | |
| 17 | 4 | Marcin Lewandowski | 1:46.73 | Q | |
| 17 | 2 | Prince Mumba | 1:46.73 | q | |
| 19 | 1 | Kevin López | 1:46.79 | Q | |
| 19 | 4 | Bram Som | 1:46.79 | Q | |
| 21 | 4 | Mahfoud Brahimi | 1:46.94 | q | |
| 22 | 1 | Mohcine El Amine | 1:46.98 | ||
| 23 | 2 | Michael Rimmer | 1:47.11 | ||
| 24 | 1 | Andrew Ellerton | 1:47.47 | ||
| 25 | 5 | Julius Mutekanga | 1:47.54 | ||
| 26 | 2 | Masato Yokota | 1:47.60 | ||
| 27 | 4 | Charles Jock | 1:47.95 | ||
| 28 | 1 | Moise Joseph | 1:48.17 | ||
| 29 | 4 | Brice Etès | 1:48.22 | SB | |
| 30 | 6 | Rafith Rodríguez | 1:48.26 | Q | |
| 31 | 6 | Tamás Kazi | 1:48.29 | Q | |
| 32 | 6 | Khadevis Robinson | 1:48.41 | Q | |
| 33 | 6 | Daniel Nghipandulwa | 1:48.79 | ||
| 34 | 6 | Lutmar Paes | 1:48.97 | ||
| 35 | 4 | Edgar Cortez | 1:49.10 | NR | |
| 36 | 3 | Ashot Hayrapetyan | 1:50.09 | PB | |
| 37 | 5 | Farhan Ahmad | 1:50.14 | PB | |
| 38 | 3 | Fernando da Silva | 1:51.58 | ||
| 39 | 6 | Ismail Ahmed Ismail | 1:52.33 | ||
| 40 | 6 | Derek Mandell | 1:57.11 | PB | |
| 41 | 1 | Zaw Win Thet | 1:58.36 | ||
| 42 | 6 | Richard Blagg | 1:59.34 | PB | |
| 43 | 2 | Shifaz Mohamed | 2:01.05 | ||
| 5 | Thomas Vandy |
Semifinals
Qualification: First 2 in each heat and the next 2 fastest advance to the [|Final].| Rank | Heat | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes |
| 1 | 3 | David Rudisha | 1:44.20 | Q | |
| 2 | 1 | Mohammed Aman | 1:44.57 | Q, NR | |
| 3 | 1 | Marcin Lewandowski | 1:44.60 | Q, SB | |
| 4 | 1 | Abubaker Kaki | 1:44.62 | q | |
| 5 | 3 | Adam Kszczot | 1:44.81 | Q | |
| 6 | 1 | Alfred Kirwa Yego | 1:44.82 | q | |
| 7 | 3 | Kléberson Davide | 1:45.06 | ||
| 8 | 1 | Khadevis Robinson | 1:45.27 | ||
| 9 | 1 | Andreas Bube | 1:45.48 | PB | |
| 10 | 2 | Nick Symmonds | 1:45.73 | Q | |
| 10 | 2 | Yuriy Borzakovskiy | 1:45.73 | Q | |
| 12 | 2 | Jackson Kivuva | 1:45.97 | ||
| 13 | 2 | Andrew Osagie | 1:46.12 | ||
| 14 | 1 | Sajjad Moradi | 1:46.17 | SB | |
| 15 | 3 | Rafith Rodríguez | 1:46.41 | ||
| 16 | 2 | Tamás Kazi | 1:46.53 | ||
| 17 | 2 | Bram Som | 1:46.69 | ||
| 18 | 3 | Mahfoud Brahimi | 1:46.79 | ||
| 19 | 2 | Kevin López | 1:46.86 | ||
| 20 | 2 | Prince Mumba | 1:47.06 | ||
| 21 | 3 | Luis Alberto Marco | 1:47.45 | ||
| 22 | 3 | Moussa Camara | 1:48.15 | ||
| 23 | 1 | Antonio Manuel Reina | 1:48.45 | ||
| 3 | Mohammad Al-Azemi |
Final
| Rank | Lane | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes |
| 6 | David Rudisha | 1:43.91 | |||
| 4 | Abubaker Kaki | 1:44.41 | |||
| 5 | Yuriy Borzakovskiy | 1:44.49 | |||
| 4 | 2 | Marcin Lewandowski | 1:44.80 | ||
| 5 | 3 | Nick Symmonds | 1:45.12 | ||
| 6 | 7 | Adam Kszczot | 1:45.25 | ||
| 7 | 8 | Alfred Kirwa Yego | 1:45.83 | ||
| 8 | 1 | Mohammed Aman | 1:45.93 |