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Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon (born 10 January 1994)[3] is a Kenyan middle- and long-distance runner. Kipyegon is the current world record holder for the 1,500 metres and mile, and the former world record holder for the 5,000 metres. Kipyegon is the only three-time Olympic champion in the 1500 metres race, having won a gold medal each at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics. She also won a gold medal in the 1,500 m at the 2017, 2022 and 2023 World Athletics Championships and in the 5,000 m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kipyegon became the first athlete ever to win three consecutive gold medals in the 1500m women's race, where she also set a new Olympic record. Kipyegon had earlier on in the 2024 Paris Olympics also earned a silver medal in the women's 5000m race, an event marked by controversy. Initially disqualified for obstruction, Kipyegon's second-place finish was later reinstated. Beatrice Chebet edged her out to win the gold.[4]
Kipyegon is nicknamed the "smiling destroyer".[5]
As a junior, Kipyegon won gold medals at the 2011 and 2013 World Cross Country Championships and in the 1500 m at the 2011 World Youth Championships and the 2012 World Junior Championships. Kipyegon is one of only eleven athletes (along with Valerie Adams, Usain Bolt, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Armand Duplantis, Jacques Freitag, Yelena Isinbayeva, Kirani James, Jana Pittman, Dani Samuels, and David Storl) to win world championships at the youth, junior, and senior level of an athletic event.
Kipyegon was cited as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2017.[6]
- ^ "Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon". London 2012. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ^ "World Rankings | Women's 1500m (Mile-2000m-Road Mile)".
- ^ "Faith KIPYEGON – Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ^ de Villiers, Ockers (5 August 2024). "PARIS 2024 ATHLETICS: KENYA'S BEATRICE CHEBET WINS MAIDEN WOMEN'S 5,000M TITLE". Olympics.com. IOC. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ^ Market, Kenyan Diaspora (22 July 2024). "FAITH KIPYEGON". Kenyan Diaspora Market. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ "100 Most Influential Africans: Ten Kenyans Including CJ David Maraga Listed". Answers Africa. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2021.