Faith Kipyegon has struck again. The Kenyan became, Tuesday August 22, the first woman in history to be three times world champion in the 1,500 m. And this, without suffering from competition. Already on top of the world, Kipyegon still has a chance to expand his record in the 5,000m, which everyone imagines will win hands down.
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Faith Kipyegon is like fate, relentless, inevitable. At the start of the 1,500m final on Tuesday August 22 at the Budapest Worlds, many had tried to build suspense around this race, with the possibility of seeing the Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan tickle the heels of the Kenyan. It has not happened. The latter won world gold over the distance for the third time, she is the first to achieve this feat.
Best runner in the world right now, Kipyegon is on cloud nine in 2023 and continues to top a hearty list. ” I was running after the story today, and I succeeded “, she appreciated. After gold at the 2017 and 2022 Worlds, silver in 2015 and 2019, two Olympic titles in 2016 and 2021, the champion has further enriched her collection. An evidence after seizing world records this year for the 1,500m (3’49”11 in Florence on June 2), the 5,000m (14’05”20 in Paris on June 9) and the mile (about 1,616 m, 4’07”64 in Monaco on July 21).
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Without seeming to force, she set a steady pace then gradually accelerated, no one being able to follow her on the last lap, to cut the line in 3 min 54 sec 87, far ahead of her Ethiopian runner-up Diribe Welteji, who confirmed, at 21. , his great talent with a first international podium.
A harvest of medals to continue
Feats made even more beautiful by his career. Kipyegon, from Chebaraa in central Kenya, put her career on hold to give birth to daughter Alyn in June 2018 and then return to the top. ” I know what women go through after maternity leave. They think it’s the end of their life. I want to prove them wrong “, she hammered to AFP in June at her Kaptagat training camp, where she runs with marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge.
With her Dutch rival Sifan Hassan, there was no duel. Remaining at the back of the group for almost the entire race, the Dutchwoman settled for bronze. The two champions will meet again in the 5,000m, where Kipyegon will again be the huge favourite.
Note that the series, initially scheduled for Wednesday at the end of the morning, have been moved to the beginning of the evening by world athleticsfacing the stifling weather conditions of the Hungarian capital (around 35 degrees).