When Faith Kipyegon won the junior race at the 2011 World Cross Country Championships barefoot, it signified the start of many more global accolades.

She has managed to win seven more individual gold medals after that race, spread across the World Championships, Commonwealth and now consecutive Olympics gold medals.

The list does not include two team gold medals at the 2014 world relays and the 2017 Cross Country Championships.

Last Friday, she retained her Olympics 1,500m gold at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo.

The 27-year-old feels she has achieved everything she needs to achieve and is considering scaling up to 5,000m.

“Maybe this was my last olympic games in 1,500m. I want a new challenge which I can get in 5,000m,” said Kipyegon who successfully defended her 1,500m gold medal with an Olympic record time of 3:53.11.

The previous Olympic record of 3:53.96 was set by Romania’s Paula Ivan in Seoul in 1988.

Before scaling up, Kipyegon says she will be attempting to break the metric mile world record of 3:50.07 held by Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba.

“Before Dibaba lowered the time in 2015 in Monaco,  many had thought that was unachievable because the record had stayed since 1993 if I am right.

I think it if possible to achieve what you want if the focus and attitude is right,” she added.

At the 2021 Monaco Diamond League last month, Kipyegon won the race in 3:51.07, a Kenyan record and fourth fastest time in history.

“I feel like I am in really good shape,  top shape, the kind of shape that gives you confidence before races.

I will definitely attempt a world record  and I  will pray God to keep me fit,” she added.

Kipyegon came back stronger after she became a mother for the first time in 2018, dedicating the medal to her daughter while motivating all mothers not to give up.

“I want to thank God for my daughter Alyn Kiprono , I want to dedicate this medal to her. She is my biggest source of inspiration.

This is my first gold medal as a mother and I want to say that this was more difficult to achieve than in Rio.

The sacrifices behind the scenes were immense,”revealed Kipyegon who in 2019 made  the switch to train under Patrick Sang in Kaptagat.