‘I see it happening’ – Kipyegon concedes her world record will be broken
By Joel Sang, August 13, 2023Triple world record holder Faith Kipyegon believes that the four-minute barrier in the 5000m race will one day be broken.
Kipyegon shattered an earlier record – by almost five seconds – in July in Monaco and believes her own record will be broken either by the current generation or the coming one.
Kipyegon’s improbable record
She became the first woman ever to break 4:12 when she ran 4:07.64 in the Diamond League series in Monaco, and this meant that she lept closer to the four-minute mark.
“Absolutely, one day, one athlete will go under four. I see it happening, either the next generation or our generation,” Kipyegon told World Athletics.
The 29-year-old superstar returned from her pregnancy period in 2018 and has gone on to register success after success, and she says this should be an inspiration to female athletes. Kipyegon gave birth to her daughter, Alyn, and thereafter had to gradually get back in shape, ready for future competitions.
At the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, Kipyegon came in second in the 1500 m, but although she did not win, she says it remains her proudest moment.
“I couldn’t imagine I would come back from maternity leave and win the silver medal in Doha. I hope to motivate them [female athletes] to know that everything is possible in life. I want to show them the way,” she added.
Support team
She says her husband, Timothy Kitum – the 800m bronze medallist in the 2012 London Olympics, has been a supportive figure.
“If my team believes in me. I have to believe in myself,” the two-time Olympic champion said.
Kipyegon has dominated headlines since her impressive run in Paris, where she competed against world record-holder Letesenbet Gidey. The Ethiopian long-distance runner clocked her 14:06.62 global mark in 2020 but could not beat her Kenyan rival, who strode away over the last half lap and ran the final 400m in 60 seconds.
“I didn’t have any pressure. I was just going there to enjoy the pace, to enjoy the laps – 12 and a half laps – so I was just going there to lower my personal best and see what was possible at the finish line.
“I had a personal best time of 14:31, and I told my manager that if I run a time of 14:20, I will be happy,” she concluded.
Kipyegon has been under the guidance of coach Patrick Sang – the 1992 Olympic steeplechase silver medallist – since 2019, while her pacemaker is Bernard Soi.