Paris Olympics: Faith Cherotich takes another step to future stardom

Faith Cherotich, 20, could well be the youngest-looking face when the women’s Olympics 3000m steeplechase event begins on Sunday 4 August, but behind her youth, an experience and record that places her among the contenders for a medal in Paris.

If past competitions are anything to go by, Cherotich, who last year became the first Kenyan teenager to win a World Championships medal in her event, then a trip to her first Olympic Games should be nothing worth fazing her.

That is the heart and spirit you get from Cherotich, born on 13 July 2004 in Segetet Village, Kipkelion West in Kericho, as the athletics journey which began in primary school, to Taita Towett Secondary School becomes apparent.

In between her getting spotted by athletics coach Bernard Rono while in high school competing in the 5000m race to making the Olympics, lies one of the most fastidious routes to what many, including Cherotich’s mentor Faith Kipyegon believe, will be greatness.

“I think she is going to be a future star,” Global’s Valentijn Trouw told World Athletics earlier this year moments after being crowned the 2023 women’s World Athletics Rising Star.

“She has all the ingredients. It reminds me – we are here with Faith Kipyegon and Faith Cherotich, and Faith Kipyegon 10 or 12 years ago was coming into athletics like Faith Cherotich is coming into athletics now.”

Cherotich's first major breakout came at the 2021 World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Nairobi, where she won bronze, before winning gold a year later while clinching the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.

The 9:16.14 winning time at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero was the big moment for the then 18-year-old, who soon became the talk of town after opening her big year in 2023 by leading Kenya to a silver medal at the World Athletics U20 Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia.

Soon enough, Cherotich was a regular name at the Wanda Diamond League before remarkably hanging onto the coattails of compatriot Beatrice Chepkoech and Winfred Yavi to win a historic bronze at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

The fact that Cherotich had been involved in a road accident months before the then personal best time of 9:00.69, goes ahead to show her mettle in facing adversity, and shining bright on the big stage.

She booked her ticket to Paris on 14 June after pipping Chepkoech to a winning time of 9:22.28 at the Team Kenya Olympic Trials at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Cherotich, Chepkoech bag steeplechase slots to Paris

In a race that will surely carry heavyweights, including the aforementioned world record holder Chepkoech, reigning Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai, 2022 world champion Norah Jeruto, and world champion Yavi - snooze on ‘small Faith’ at your own risk.