 Having earned himself a place on the American team for the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, Rupp announced that he was turning pro, and that Michael Johnson would be his agent.At the World Championships, Rupp placed eighth in the 10000m, where he was one of only two non-Africans in the top 12 alongside Dathan Ritzenhein.He then qualified for and competed at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships.