First World Athletics, now Track and Field News has honoured Faith Kipyegon as Athlete of the Year in the women’s category.
“A PERFECT SEASON? Certainly on the track it was. Faith Kipyegon put together a campaign for the ages in ’23: undefeated, record breaking, awe-inspiring. No one will be surprised that the 29-year-old Kenyan mother has earned our Woman’s Athlete Of The Year honors by an overwhelming margin,” wrote Jeff Hollobaugh.
"This year was a dream come true and I would like to dedicate this Award to all the middle-distance runners. It really melted my heart to know that besides what we do, we also have humanity and laughs."
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) December 14, 2023
World Athlete of the Year for Track Events @Kipyegon_Faith looks back on her… pic.twitter.com/vF0QgsCgTI
On Monday, December 11 Kipyegon took top honours in Monaco as World Athletics honouree. The two-time world champion was named World Female Track Athlete of the Year, which was awarded to her by the public, peers and by vote from the World Athletics Council.
On June 23, Kipyegon ran a new world record in Firenze, Italy clocking a 3:49.11 performance. In July she ran a new mile record of 4:07.64 in Monaco. Two days after her 1500m world record, Kipyegon ran a national 5000m record of 14:05.20 in Paris. On Oct. 1, she clocked a 4:24.13 road mile.
Three of those meets are part of the Diamond League.
“I didn’t expect to run a World Record,” she said. “I was looking to run a world lead, which was 3:54. When I heard the bell, I was feeling that I could still push more than that. The fans were cheering, that’s why I was pushing the last 400, knowing that I had left the Wavelight behind and everything was possible in front. I was just focusing myself toward that finishline.
“I believed in the training I did and my coach told me everything was possible. My coach told me I was in the best shape ever.”
Her Budapest World Championships performances brought her gold medals in the 5000m clocking a 14:53.88 and 1500m, which she won in 3:54.87. She is a three-time world 1500m champion from London in 2017, Eugene in 2022 and Budapest. In addition to the golds, Kipyegon earned silver at the 2015 Beijing and 2019 Doha world championships in the 1500m. She also earned two Olympic gold medals in the 1500m event in Rio and Tokyo.
