Motherhood, belief and gold – Kipyegon reflects on Tokyo win
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 17.09.25. | 13:38
Her Tokyo win may have added to her legacy, but for Kipyegon, it is less about records and more about taking each step at a time.
Faith Kipyegon described her latest World Championships triumph in Tokyo as a deeply personal victory, one driven by self-belief, motherhood, and the desire to inspire.
Moments after clinching her fourth world 1500m title on Tuesday night, the Kenyan star said she had arrived in Japan with a clear mission: to defend her crown and prove once again that she belongs at the very top of her event.
“After setting the world record in Eugene, I told myself I had to come here and defend my title,” she explained. “I knew I could control the race, and I’m happy that I managed to do it.”
For Kipyegon, returning to the Japan National Stadium stirred memories of her Olympic gold in 2021, just months after becoming a mother. This week’s victory, she said, carried the same emotional weight.
“This place is very special to me. Winning here again means I can show my daughter another gold medal. She inspires me every single day,” Kipyegon said with a smile.
She also revealed her ambitions beyond the 1500m: “This medal is in the pocket now, and the focus shifts to the 5000m. I’ll give it my all to try and win that too.”
Looking back, Kipyegon credits setbacks as much as her successes for shaping her career, especially the silver medal in Doha in 2019, which she says “made me the athlete I am today.” That race, coming after the birth of her daughter, gave her the conviction that she could balance motherhood and dominance on the track.
At 31, Kipyegon says she continues to draw motivation from the sport itself and from her training environment in the Rift Valley under coach Patrick Sang, alongside marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge. “This sport drives me,” she emphasized.
Her Tokyo win may have added to her legacy, but for Kipyegon, it is less about records and more about taking each step at a time. “I’m just focusing on one race after another,” she said. “And I’m grateful I can keep delivering.”
