A year to remember for Kenya’s middle distance queen Kipyegon

There is little doubt that Faith Kipyegon’s name will be among those announced when the World Athletics Athletes of the Year are revealed in a few months’ time.

The Kenyan middle distance queen deserves all the accolades available after producing an unprecedented level of success this season – not only breaking three world records but then going on to claim an extraordinary double at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest before ending the track season with a Diamond League trophy.

Kipyegon has travelled a phenomenal distance, not only on the track itself but also in life – from her humble beginnings in Kenya’s Rift Valley where she was born the eighth of nine children.

Introduced to athletics in earnest at the age of 15, she rose through the ranks to claim two Olympic gold medals and now four individual world titles. She’s also made a successful return from a year off to have her first child with husband Timothy Kitum (an 800m bronze medallist at the London Olympics) in 2018 and says her now five-year-old daughter, Alyn, has provided fresh inspiration.

Fired up with that extra motivation and training under the watchful eye of iconic coach Patrick Sang alongside marathon world record-holder Eliud Kipchoge, Kipyegon has had a year like no other. We take a look back at what her remarkable season has entailed…

1500M WORLD RECORD – 2 JUNE 2023

Heading to the third Diamond League meet of the season in Florence, Italy, Kipyegon admitted the 1500m world record was very much in her heart and mind. She already owned the Olympic and world titles so the world record was really the only thing left to achieve over the distance. The previous mark of 3:50.07 set by Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba had stood for eight years and Kipyegon was determined to claim it for Kenya. She took to the front of the pack on the second last lap and sailed to victory in a phenomenal 3:49.11, so becoming the first woman in history under three minutes and 50 seconds.

The triumphant Kipyegon was surrounded by her rivals after the race, all celebrating the Kenyan’s achievement and the fact they were part of the historic race.

"They are really special,” she said to World Athletics afterwards. “We come along together, cheer one another. This is sport, we have to love each other and celebrate one another at our lowest moments and highest moments, and I really thank the ladies for coming along and running together and celebrating this world record together. We were part of this together."

5000M WORLD RECORD – 9 JUNE 2023

Just one week later Kipyegon took on her next challenge at the following Diamond League meet in Paris. For the first time in eight years, and for only the third time in her career, the Kenyan superstar took on the 5000m distance. Once again, the familiar figure took to the front and powered ahead of the on-track green lights indicating world record pace. She reached the finish in 14:05.20 to eclipse Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey’s previous mark of 4:06.62 set in 2020. Gidey came in second in the race with an elated Kipyegon collapsing into her arms in celebration, admitting afterwards that the world record wasn’t exactly part of the plan.

“The world record was not in my plan, I just ran after Gidey — she is an amazing lady,” she told World Athletics afterwards. “I don’t know what will be next. If my body is healthy, anything is possible.”

Kipyegon’s mark lasted just over three months as another Ethiopian, Gudaf Tsegay, claimed the record back for her nation in the last meet of the season in Eugene, winning the Diamond League title in 14:00.21. That just makes any possible showdowns next season all the more compelling.

1 MILE WORLD RECORD – 21 JULY 2023

It may not be an Olympic or World Championships discipline, but the mile is one of the benchmarks of middle-distance running – and one which provided yet another tantalising target for Kipyegon. This time she took over four seconds off the previous mark of 4:12.33 that her Dutch rival set on the same Monaco track four years before. Kipyegon was on world record pace throughout and surged ahead on the final lap, opening up a massive gap on the rest of the field and crossing the finish in 4:07.64 to claim her third world record in less than 50 days. An indication of just how quickly the race played out was that behind her six other runners set national records.

UNPRECEDENTED WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DOUBLE – 22 AND 26 AUGUST 2023

After such a sensational build-up, few would have bet against Kipyegon achieving the daunting task she’d set for herself at the World Championships in Budapest – becoming the first woman in history to claim a 1500 and 5000m double.

First up was the 1500m and the classy Kenyan had no trouble in storming to victory in 3:54.87. outgunningEthiopia’s Diribe Welteji and the Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan for a third straight gold medal in the event – another record.

Then came the distance which was less of a certainty, the 5000m. But again, there was no denying Kipyegon who outsprinted Hassan to take her second gold in four days in a time of 14:53.88.

“This has been an amazing year for me. Making history today, winning two gold medals in a championships is what I was dreaming for this season,” she said in Budapest. “I have been patient waiting to be able to break world records and win double golds. But my dream just came true, it is amazing. I have been pushing myself to the limits and I will continue to push myself in the future.

“My daughter gives me amazing support, she always tells me I can do it. I believed in myself. I have been consistent, focused on the finish line and on writing history.”

SIGNING OFF IN STYLE – 16 SEPTEMBER 2023

With her list of accomplishments growing every time she stepped out on the track, there was just one last order of business for the season as Kipyegon travelled to Eugene, Oregon in the USA for the Diamond League final. She made no mistake in wrapping up the track season in style, cruising to victory in the 1500m in a meet record time of 3:50.72 to secure her fourth Diamond League trophy over the distance, and third in a row.

MORE TO COME?

Her track season may have come to an end, but, incredibly, there could still be more to come from Kipyegon who will be part of a strong Kenyan line-up at the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia next month. All eyes will certainly be on the speed sensation when she takes to the streets for the first time for the 1 mile event on 1 October.