Kenya's Faith Kipyegon Writes History After Winning Women's 1500m Race
The Kenyan star won the 1500m title at the 2016 Rio Games and 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Marvin Chege 
Kenyan middle-distance runner Faith Kipyegon is now a three-time Olympic champion after clinching gold in the women's 1500m final.
Kipyegon on Saturday, August 10 obliterated her competition in the final 100 metres to win gold, setting an Olympic record of 3:51.29 which now cements her status as one of the greatest Kenyan athletes of all time.
The Kenyan star won the 1500m title at the 2016 Rio Games and 2021 Tokyo Olympics. This win ensured she stamped her dominance in the distance, becoming the first Kenyan to win three gold medals at the Olympics.
She blew past Australian Jessica Hull (3:52.56) and Briton Georgia Bell (3:52.61) to clinch the top position, as fellow Kenyan Susan Ejore settled for sixth in 3:56.07. Ethiopia's tactics through Gudaf Tsegay in starting the race on the front foot fell apart.
Faith Kipyegon crossing the finish line during the women's 1500m final on August 10, 2024. /WORLD ATHLETICS
En route to victory, Kipyegon deployed a tactical race and stuck to her plan. She stayed with the leading pack but with less than 250m to go she surged forward before engaging the front gear, crossing the line and breaking the Olympics record - much to her dismay.
Before going to this race, she had only fallen short of an unprecedented Olympic double on Monday, August 5 in the women's 5,000m, losing the top honours to compatriot Beatrice Chebet. Chebet on her part repeated her heroics at the 10,000m, becoming the first athlete in the entire 2024 Olympic Games to wield two gold medals.
Kipyegon is now the sole holder of most Olympic titles over that distance – man or woman. Before tonight, the 30-year-old was level on Olympic titles with 1976 and 1980 winner Tatyana Kazankina from Russia and World Athletics president Sebastian Coe (1980 and 1984).
Only two Kenyan women have won medals in the 1,500m at the Olympics that is, Kipyegon in 2016 and 2020 and now 2024 as well as 2008 Beijing Games winner Nancy Lagat.
"The indomitable Faith Kipyegon has done it, again! Congratulations on clinching the Gold medal in the 1500M race, the third consecutive in the competition, and setting a new record. You are simply amazing," President William Ruto posted on his official social media handles.
Kipyegon's gold is Kenya's fourth gold in the 2024 Olympics, the second in a single day, coming a few moments after her male compatriot, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, clinched victory in the men's 800m at a time of 1:41.19.
Wanyonyi had beaten his closest challenger, Canadian Marco Arop in a photo finish to claim gold in the men's 800m while Ronald Kwemoi settled for silver in the men's 5000m race behind Norwegian Jacob Ingebrigtsen who timed 13:13.66.
Kenya has so far bagged 10 medals - 4 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze, and will be aiming to extend this tally on Sunday morning, August 11 when Hellen Obiri, Peres Jepchirchir and Sharon Lokedi line up in the women's marathon.
All of Kenyan eyes will be on this marathon after a shocker saw marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge pull out of the men's marathon at the 31-kilometre mark, even though Kenya's Benson Kipruto secured bronze.
