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The two-time Olympic and world champion has reached astonishing levels of success since becoming a mother
When Faith Kipyegon took her maternity break in early 2018, she was already a world beater having won a world and Olympics gold but since he return in June 2019, she has been on another level.
She added another world and Olympic gold, won Diamond League trophies and missed the 1,500m world record by 0.3 seconds by 2022. However, this year, she has started the season in astonishing fashion as after winning the season-opening Diamond League in Doha, she has smashed the world record twice in a week.
To make it more surprising, those two world records, seven days apart have come in different races. The two-time world and Olympic champion smashed the 5,00m world record at the Paris Diamond League on Friday when she clocked 14:05.20, a week after she had lowered Genzebe Dibaba’s eight-year 1,500m world record in Florence after running 3:49.11.
Kipyegon admitted to being surprised by the record in Paris given it was just her third ever race at the distance, and her first 5,000m outing in eight years. According to her, those ‘Super Human’ levels of running might have been impossible had she not have been a mother.
“Since I gave birth to Alyne, I got extra energy. I have been pushing hard in training because mentally, I am stable. She has given me a lot of extra energy,” Kipyegon told Capital Sports.
“It has been a special moment for me since Alyne arrived in this world. It has been really enjoyable. In terms of my career, it has been good because I am performing well and I am also able to take good care of her and she is growing up in a nice way.
“She (Alyne) is somebody who gives me strength every day. I push myself to the limits because I want to show her the way. She wants to be a champion as well and she always tells me that she wants to be like me. She wants to be an Olympic champion and win medals. I want to motivate her and when she grows up we will see what path she will choose,” Kipyegon added.
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12:03 - 10.06.2023
ATHLETICS Faith Kipyegon smashes World Record again
Kipyegon shattered the previous world record of 14:06.62 set by Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey, the reigning world 10,000m champion.
However, it has not been easy balancing motherhood and running for the 29-year-old who is based at the Global Sports Training Camp in Kaptagat. Kipyegon, who shares a coach (Patrick Sang) with world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge, spends six days in camp and only has Sunday to be with her family.
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05:00 - 05.06.2023
ATHLETICS Faith Kipyegon: How ‘tiny’ shy girl from Keringet conquered all to become the 1,500m GOAT
From running barefoot, winning Olympics and World Championship gold, nearly missing world record to finally getting it, Pulse Sports highlights the 29-year-old’s journey to the top
“I love my daughter so much and sometimes of course I do miss her because staying for a whole week without seeing her is really tough. But I am glad because I have a very good lady who helps me take care of her and my husband as well and mostly the communication is on phone. On the weekends is usually our time together and we either go out together or stay in and watch cartoons, do her homework and just bond,” she said.
Five-year-old Alyne is the daughter of the now double world record holder and 2012 Olympics 800m bronze medalist Timothy Kitum and there are hopes that the athletics genes of her parents will rub off on her to maintain the legacy.
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