Kenya’s gold medallist at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest Faith Kipyegon will earn millions for her triumph in the 1500m race.
The triple world record holder managed to defend her title in the championship, and with that comes $70,000, equivalent to Ksh10,026,261, an amount that gold medallist are guaranteed.
More cash
After winning the 1500m gold, the Kenyan stands another chance of pocketing a similar amount should she emerge as the winner of the 5000m race set for Saturday.
Meanwhile, Kipyegon’s triumph did not come easy, as she had to defeat multiple world and Olympic gold medallist Sifan Hassan and Laura Muir, an Olympic silver medallist. Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji, a rising star, and Birke Haylom were also threats to the Kenyan superstar.
Inspiration
After winning the gold medal in 3:54.87, the 29-year-old revealed what inspired her and what she was chasing.
“This is a great season for me: breaking world records and becoming a world champion here, defending my title. I told myself, ‘You are the strongest; just keep going’.
“I was chasing this title, and I was chasing history. My plan was to get to the front and go faster because I knew these races could be up and down. I just got myself in front after 300m and nobody came,” she said after her triumph.
The medal won in the Hungarian capital is the latest collection in Kipyegon’s closet, having won gold at the 2016 and 2022 Olympic Games. She was also the winner of the World Championships in 2017 and 2022.
In the Diamond Leagues, she broke world records for the 1500m in Florence this year, the mile record in Monaco, and the 5000m in between, which were perfect build-up achievements ahead of the Budapest showpiece.
