From Walking to School to Setting World Athletics Alight
Faith Kipyegon is a name that has been on the lips of many sports fans and athletes around the world. The Kenyan runner has been breaking records and making history in the 1,500 metre and 5,000 metre events, achieving feats that have never been seen before.
Kipyegon’s journey to the top of the world began in a humble village in Kenya’s Rift Valley, where she used to walk for 10 kilometres every day to and from school. She started running at the age of 12, inspired by her father, who was also a runner. She soon caught the attention of local coaches and scouts, who helped her develop her talent and potential.
She made her international debut at the age of 16, winning the gold medal in the 1,500 metre event at the 2011 World Youth Championships in France. She then went on to win the silver medal at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Spain, and the gold medal at the 2013 World Cross Country Championships in Poland.
A Dominant Force in Middle-Distance Running
Kipyegon’s breakthrough moment came at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she won the gold medal in the 1,500 metre event, beating the defending champion and world record holder Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia. She became the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a track event other than the 3,000 metre steeplechase.
She followed up her Olympic success with another gold medal at the 2017 World Championships in London, where she again defeated Dibaba in a thrilling finish. She then took a break from running to give birth to her daughter Alyn in 2018, before returning to action in 2019.
She defended her world title at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, becoming the first woman to win back-to-back gold medals in the 1,500 metre event at the global stage. She also won the silver medal in the 5,000 metre event, behind Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands.
Breaking Records and Making History
Kipyegon’s remarkable form continued in 2021, as she set three world records in less than two months. On July 9, she ran the fastest ever women’s mile in Monaco, clocking 4:12.33 and breaking Svetlana Masterkova’s record of 4:12.56 that had stood since 1996.
On August 6, she ran the fastest ever women’s two miles in Eugene, Oregon, clocking 8:31.72 and breaking Meseret Defar’s record of 8:58.58 that had stood since 2007. She also became the first woman to run under nine minutes for the distance.
On August 24, she ran the fastest ever women’s 1,500 metre in Zurich, clocking 3:51.07 and breaking Genzebe Dibaba’s record of 3:50.07 that had stood since 2015. She also became the first woman to run under three minutes and 52 seconds for the distance.
Aiming for More Glory at Budapest
Kipyegon is now gearing up for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, where she will be aiming to win her third consecutive gold medal in the 1,500 metre event and challenge Hassan for the gold medal in the 5,000 metre event.
She will also be looking forward to defending her Olympic title at the Paris Olympics in 2024, where she will have a chance to join an elite club of women who have won multiple Olympic gold medals in middle-distance running.
Kipyegon has already established herself as one of the greatest female runners of all time, and has inspired many young girls and boys in Kenya and beyond to pursue their dreams and passions. She is a true champion and a role model for generations to come.
