‘It is legacy’ – Triple world record Kipyegon holder reveals what she is working on
By Joel Sang, August 4, 2023Two-time world 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon has revealed she is working towards establishing her own legacy after breaking three records within 50 days.
After breaking records in the Florence and Paris Diamond League series, the outstanding 29-year-old broke another record – in the mile – when she ran in 4:07.64 to shatter Sifan Hassan’s world record time of 4:12.33, which had been set on the same track in 2019.
Kipyegon’s plan
“It’s the legacy; that’s what I am working on now. I have the world records, but I have to break barriers and leave a legacy over the distance,” Kipyegon told Olympic.com.
As she eyes greatness by becoming the greatest miler in history, she explained how she manages to show up, stay motivated, and go beyond expectations.
“It’s the love of sports and the [dream] that I still want to empower the young generation, women athletes, to know that everything is possible in life.
“[I have proved that] you can take a maternity break and come back even stronger. Before I gave birth to Alyn, I had never run a world record, but now I am here with Alyn and the world record. I want to be an inspiration to many,” she added.
Budapest hope
In the upcoming 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest in August, Kipyegon is eyeing an unprecedented third world title in Budapest and a third straight Olympic gold in Paris 2024. She is an Olympic gold medal winner at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
Three track world records, in three different events, in under two months is a great achievement that has put the runner in global headlines for the past several days.
“I still can’t believe it. It’s incredible. It’s amazing! You were not expecting [much] and then suddenly, boom! You have three world records within two months.
“I was dreaming and having it in my mind and heart that I would break the 1500m world record, but not the 5000m or the mile. That one was still very far from my thoughts, and then in two months I will have them all,” Kipyegon said of her three recent records.
In Budapest, Kipyegon will be chasing two titles since she is a participant in the 1500m and the 5000m races. Her focus is to defend the 1500m title and hope for her first-ever 5000m global title.