Kenya’s middle-distance queen, Faith Kipyegon, once again wrote history on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

She stormed to her fourth world title in the 1500m, clocking 3:52.15 to win gold, ahead of teammate Dorcus Ewoi, who bagged silver on her debut. The two medals pushed Kenya’s tally to five at the championships, with more races still on the schedule.

However, beyond the glory and national pride, attention has also turned to the amount of money athletes are earning for their performances in Tokyo. The World Athletics Championships prize money 2025 winners are set to share more than US$8.5 million (approximately Ksh1.1 billion) across nine days of action at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

How much do winners earn?

For individual events, winners of gold medals such as Kipyegon will receive US$70,000 (around Ksh9 million). Silver medallists like Dorcus Ewoi are entitled to US$35,000 (Ksh4.5 million), while bronze medallists attract US$22,000 (Ksh2.8 million). Athletes finishing between fourth and eighth place also share in the rewards, earning between US$16,000 (Ksh2 million) and US$5,000 (Ksh650,000).

Relay races, including the men’s, women’s, and mixed 4x400m, carry a higher prize for winners. Gold medal relay teams pocket US$80,000 (Ksh10.3 million) to be shared among the four runners, while silver and bronze collect US$40,000 (Ksh5.1 million) and US$20,000 (Ksh2.6 million), respectively.

There is also a special world record bonus of US$100,000 (Ksh12.9 million) on offer. If any athlete sets a new global mark in Tokyo, this figure will be added to their medal prize.

Kenya’s medal charge

Faith Kipyegon’s victory and Ewoi’s silver underline Kenya’s strength in middle-distance running. Earlier in the championships, Beatrice Chebet had delivered gold in the 10,000m, while Peres Jepchirchir stormed to victory in the marathon. Edmund Serem also secured bronze in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. These results have placed Kenya firmly in the medal table with a chance of adding more.

In the men’s 800m, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Kelvin Loti, and Nicholas Kebenei all advanced to the semi-finals, keeping Kenya’s hopes alive in one of its traditional strongholds. The men’s 800m final is always one of the highlights of the championships, and this year it could produce another Kenyan medal.

Global prize money pool

The World Athletics Championships prize money for 2025 totals US$8,498,000. With 49 medal events across men’s, women’s and one mixed relay, every final has its own prize purse. The breakdown is consistent with what was offered at the previous championships in Budapest in 2023.

Prize money for individual events:

• 1st: US$70,000
• 2nd: US$35,000
• 3rd: US$22,000
• 4th: US$16,000
• 5th: US$11,000
• 6th: US$7,000
• 7th: US$6,000
• 8th: US$5,000

Prize money for relay events:

• 1st: US$80,000
• 2nd: US$40,000
• 3rd: US$20,000
• 4th: US$16,000
• 5th: US$12,000
• 6th: US$8,000
• 7th: US$6,000
• 8th: US$4,000

Spotlight on the 100m

While Kenya shines in distance running, the sprints remain the most-watched events at the World Championships. The World Athletics Championships 2025 100m final was one of the biggest attractions in Tokyo.

The men’s race crowned Jamaica’s Oblique Seville as the new fastest man alive after he upset world champion Noah Lyles. The women’s 100m also featured fierce competition, continuing the dominance of Caribbean sprinters.

The 100m races always headline the World Athletics Championships 100m schedule, drawing the largest global television audiences. For fans following from Kenya, many tuned into the World Athletics Championships 2025 live updates and results, even though no Kenyan was in the medal frame.

What next for Kenya?

With several finals still to come in Tokyo, including the men’s 800m and the 5000m, Kenya has more chances to climb up the medal standings. Wiseman Were also progressed in the 400m hurdles, while Mary Moraa remains a favourite in the women’s 800m.

Kenya’s middle- and long-distance dominance means the prize money coming back home will be significant. Gold medallists Beatrice Chebet, Peres Jepchirchir and Faith Kipyegon each earn about Ksh9 million from World Athletics, on top of the Ksh3 million government bonus promised under the new scheme.

Dorcus Ewoi, who claimed silver in the 1500m, will add nearly Ksh4.5 million in international prize money to her Ksh2 million local reward. Steeplechase bronze medallist Edmund Serem takes home roughly Ksh2.8 million from World Athletics, plus Ksh1 million from the state.