World-record holder David Rudisha of Kenya successfully defended his Olympic gold in the 800 meters Monday night as American Clayton Murphy took a surprise bronze medal.
Rudisha won in 1 minute, 42.15 seconds after blowing away the field in the final 100 meters. Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria was second in 1:42.61 and Murphy passed Pierre-Ambroise Bosse of France near the finish to take third in a personal-best time of 1:42.93.
The U.S. had not medaled in the event since 1992, when Johnny Gray took bronze. The last American gold came from Dave Wottle at the 1972 Munich Games.