Under the sunny skies of Kaptagat, Kenya, Faith Kipyegon trains with a singular focus on making history. For the 30-year-old middle-distance running star, her success goes beyond medals and records; it embodies her journey through motherhood and her role as an inspirational figure in athletics.
Kipyegon’s illustrious career includes a gold medal in the 1,500 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics. After the birth of her daughter, Alyn, in 2018, Kipyegon made a spectacular return to the top of her sport. Training alongside marathon great Eliud Kipchoge, she is preparing for the Paris Olympics with unwavering dedication, managing the dual roles of an elite athlete and a mother.
“She changed my life and my mentality,” Kipyegon says of her daughter. “I now realize that I have someone who looks up to me as a role model.” This new perspective has fueled her drive, leading to another Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games and three world titles.
In 2023, Kipyegon cemented her status as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time by breaking world records in the 1,500 meters, 1 mile, and 5,000 meters within two months—all while raising her daughter.
Kipyegon is part of a growing group of athletes proving that motherhood and elite sports are compatible. “Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Allyson Felix returned stronger after maternity leave, and we met at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics,” she recalls. Felix won a gold and a bronze, while Fraser-Pryce took silver, becoming the most decorated 100-meter sprinter in Olympic history. “We inspire young women to know that maternity leave doesn’t end your career; it can be a new beginning,” Kipyegon suggests.
Training with Kipchoge has given Kipyegon a new outlook and driven her to new heights. “I can’t describe it; he’s a unique athlete,” she says. “Being around Eliud and hearing his thoughts on motivation and hard work has transformed my mindset and goals.”
After recovering from a soft tissue injury, Kipyegon excelled at the Kenyan Olympic trials in June, winning both the 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters races. On July 7, she astonished the world by breaking her own 1,500 meters world record at a Diamond League meet in Paris with a time of 3:49.04, making her the only woman to run under 3:50.
“Everyone expects you to perform well and be at the top,” Kipyegon reflects on the pressure of defending her Olympic title. “It’s a big event, and everyone dreams of gold. Well, Faith is also dreaming of that gold medal.”
Kipyegon’s story is about more than athletic excellence; it’s about resilience and inspiration. Growing up as the eighth of nine children in the village of Ndabibit, she walked and jogged several miles to school daily. She gained international recognition at 17 by winning the World Junior Cross Country Championships running barefoot, showing that true success comes from within. “It’s mentality, hard work, and patience that drive an elite athlete’s success,” she says.
As she prepares for Paris, Kipyegon is aware of the significance of her quest for a third consecutive gold in one event, a rare feat in any sport. “Going to Paris and remembering the history I’ve talked about and getting that gold medal will be a huge achievement for me,” she says.
Kipyegon carries the hopes of a nation known for its running stars and honors the legacy of many runners who came before her. “I am always proud to represent Kenya,” she says. “Wearing the Kenya singlet is truly beautiful and magical.”
With the Olympic Games approaching, Faith Kipyegon stands ready to make her mark in sports history. Her journey from a barefoot girl in rural Kenya to an Olympic champion shows that with resilience, dedication, and a bit of faith, anything is possible.
[…] women’s 5,000m final ended dramatically, with Faith Kipyegon, who initially finished second, disqualified for an altercation with Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay. […]