Faith Kipyegon’s Budapest gold medal excites Ruto

• Two-time Olympic gold medalist Faith Kipyegon won Kenya’s first gold at the current World Athletics Championships in Budapest
• She bagged yet another medal after winning the 1500-meter run in 3:54.87 on Tuesday
• President Ruto described her as an exceptional athlete with raw talent who has made Kenya proud

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Faith Kipyegon won Kenya’s first gold at the current World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

She bagged yet another medal after winning the 1500-meter run in 3:54.87 on Tuesday. Kipyegon led from the start of the competition to the end and successfully defended her title.

As the current world record holder and defending champion, Kipyegon remarked in a post-race interview that she kept her faith and gave it her best.

It was simple, she said, adding that the pressure of winning since she is the world record holder made her run faster.

Faith Kipyegon with President William Ruto. She has broken two world records in 2023 alone and won her first gold medal at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Humgary. Photo/William Samoei Ruto

“I was quickest through the 400m and I knew going to the bell I had to push harder and harder. This win has motivated me a lot now going (into the 5000m); I know everything is possible now,” she stated.

President William Ruto led Kenyans in congratulating her on her victory describing her as an exceptional athlete with raw talent.

Kipyegon’s performance, according to First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto, has made Kenya proud.

“The colours of our flag shine even brighter today, thanks to Faith’s exceptional achievement. She has made Kenya proud,” the First Lady tweeted.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said that Kenya is lucky to have astute athletes such as Kipyegon.

Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji finished in second place with a time of 3:55.69, but Sifan Hassan, who had previously lost her chance to win the 10,000-meter gold by collapsing with only 10 meters remaining in the race, followed her normal plan and ran the first half of the race near the back of the pack.

When the final lap’s bell rang, the Dutchwoman advanced to the middle of the pack and advanced into third as she rounded the final turn in the back straight.

Faith Kipyegon Egerton. Photo/Egerton University

With Kipyegon out of sight, Hassan, who had passed Welteji with 100 meters remaining, began to tire. She managed to hang on for third (3:56.00), only 0.61 seconds ahead of a charging Ciara Mageean, who also set a new Irish national record.

Her first gold medal this year at the World Athletics Championship come after the ratification of Kipyegon’s two world records by World Athletics.

Kipyegon has set three world records since June, two of which are in the women’s 1500-meter and 5000-meter races.

The endorsement of her July 21 mile record in Monaco is still pending. Kipyegon broke the first world record at the Golden Gala, which took place in Florence, Italy on June 2.

She broke the previous women’s 1500-meter record established by Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia in Monaco on July 17, 2015, with a time of 3:49.11.