Faith Kipyegon on pushing her legacy beyond titles and going for the 800m world record "if the chance comes"
In an exclusive interview, the Kenyan double Olympic champion, who broke three track world records across three different track distances in just under two months, shares how she's managing the pressure of expectations.
Athletics
Faith Kipyegon is very happy.
Her usual cheerfulness is now tinged with bursts of hearty laughter.
Understandably so.
She has achieved a phenomenal feat, three track world records, in three different events, in under 50 days.
The two-time Olympic women's 1500m gold medallist is still getting used to her new title - world record holder. In fact, three-times world record holder.
Surreal. It hasn’t registered yet.
“I still can’t believe it. It’s incredible. It’s amazing!” she says in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com.
“You were not expecting [much] and then suddenly, boom! you have three world records, within two months."
With the historic back-to-back golds at Tokyo 2020 held in 2021, and her four World Championships medals, her legacy was secure. But Kipyegon wanted more.
To be the best and to be recognised as a ‘superstar’.
“I was dreaming and having in my mind and heart that I would break the 1500m world record, but not the 5000m and the mile. That one was still very far from my thoughts… and then in two months I have them all,” she reflects just a week after rounding off yet another set of greatest achievements.
The Kenyan continued her winning streak at the World Athletics Championships successfully defending her 1500m title before chasing her first ever 5000m gold.
Faith Kipyegon on the mental shift that led her to shatter three world records
When Faith Kipyegon announced herself on the global stage at the 2010 World Cross Championships, the signature accomplishment for many was that the diminutive runner had managed fourth place in the U20 women’s race running barefoot.
Few imagined that the Bydgoszcz race would be the turning point of the career of one of the most remarkable women in track history.
12 years later, Kipyegon was delighted to have recaptured her 1500m in Eugene last August, but she still craved the world record she’d missed the previous season.
She wanted to be the fastest 1500m runner ever. But that recognition took her years.
Still, as as she told Olympics.com last November, the disappointment fuelled her desire even when doubts creeped in about her breaking the 3 minutes 50 seconds barrier in the 1500m.
“Last year, and in 2021 I thought nobody would run faster than 3:50.”
So what changed for the 29-year old?
“I didn’t change anything,” she shares with a chuckle.
“The training, what coach Patrick [Sang] has been giving me for many years [is the same]. I have been focussing more on speed for the 1500m, as that was what was still in my heart, that one day, one time I will break the world record.
“I have all the medals from the [World] Championships, the Olympics, over the distance, but not the world record. That was still what I was missing from my pocket.”
“But seeing what I was capable of doing over the endurance, the 5000, the mile, and the 1500m was incredible,” Kipyegon, who has competed in only seven races this season, adds of her tactful approach.
“I changed mentally, knowing that anything, everything is possible. I think that is what I was lacking over some years.” Faith Kipyegon to Olympics.com on her mental shift
She also had a restart of sorts. Going back to where it all started, the cross-country.
Last February, Kipyegon’s first race of the season was a dominant 10km victory at the Sirikwa Cross-country in Eldoret, her first cross-country race in nearly six years.
But which of the three world records stretched her the most?
Was it her most recent 4:07.64 run over the mile in Monaco, or the gusty 14:05.20 in the 5000m in Paris, or becoming the first woman to run under 3:50 with her 3:49.11 in the 1500m at the Diamond League in Florence?
“The 5000m,” she states without hesitation.
“I could sprint the last 100m but after the finish line I was like, ‘eh… am I going to do the 5000m race anymore? Am I going to do it in the years to come?’
“I was like done! Then after seeing the world record, I was shocked. ‘What? Did I run 14:05?’ It came as a surprise and even when I am talking to people I am [asking myself], 'am I really the world record holder over the 5000m?' It’s like I am dreaming.”
Faith Kipyegon on running towards greatness: ‘ I’m working on the legacy’
Two Olympic gold medals - at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
The three world titles, and two silver from the worlds.
Four gold medals from the world cross country, and junior worlds.
And then most recently cementing her status as one of the greatest track stars with the three world records.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games champion is racing towards becoming the undisputed queen of the 1500m outdoor.
She is eyeing an unprecedented third world title in Budapest in 2023, and a third straight Olympic gold at Paris 2024, and more.
“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 the legacy over the distance,” she says of her to run towards greatness by becoming the greatest miler in history and the most celebrated at the global championships.
How has she managed to keep showing up, staying motivated, and going 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,” she offers with another merry laugh, triggered by the memory of what she feels was the defining moment of her career, motherhood.
“[I have proved that] you can take a maternity break and come back even stronger. Before I gave birth to Alyn, I never ran a world record, but now I am here with Alyn and the world record. I want to be an inspiration to many.”
Faith Kipyegon on the 800m and double gold at the World Championships: ‘Anything is possible’
Has she considered stepping down and improving her personal best of 1:57.68 in the 800m?
Czechia’s Jarmila Kratochvílova is the holder of the two-lap world record of 1:53.48, and feels the Kenyan star is capable of erasing the 40-year mark.
“I don’t know… 800m is not easy…but anything is possible,” Kipyegon says, clearly awed by the consideration as one of the possible challengers of another world record.
“For now, I leave that one for Mary Moraa, she is capable. Or Athing Mu, Keely Hodginkson. They are all capable of breaking that barrier in the 800m.
"But if a chance comes whereby I am able to try, i'll appreciate it.”
She remains focused on writing another chapter of her illustrious career, by maintaining her form and staying calm despite 'feeling a bit of pressure' heading to her sixth World Championships.
An event that will influence her decision on whether to chase another double in Paris next year.
“I can’t go there like just an athlete, now I have three world records they expect a lot from me. But going to Budapest, I have to just be myself and run my races and see what will happen at the finish line.”
She hopes to stay healthy and have fun while training with her teammates, including world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge, maintaining her signature jovial character and humour, that she uses to lighten up any situation and makes her a legend at their high-altitude camp.
“Having fun, enjoying sport and even life is amazing… it has been the drive of our success. It helps mentally [by distracting] you from thinking of races every day and upcoming races and what you want to achieve or what will be the outcome.”- Faith Kipyegon to Olympics.com