In 2025, three-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon once again proved that her legacy in athletics is still being written. In a year packed with competition, pressure and expectation, the Kenyan middle-distance great delivered moments that reaffirmed her place among the sport’s all-time icons.
From Eugene to Tokyo, Kipyegon’s season unfolded like a masterclass. She began by storming to victory in the 1,500m at the Eugene Diamond League before successfully defending her world title in Tokyo in September. She capped the year with another emphatic win at the Diamond League final in Brussels, completing a campaign defined by dominance and consistency.
Reflecting on the year, Kipyegon says 2025 was filled with far more highs than lows. “The highest moment was defending my world title in Tokyo, which is my specialty. I am so happy that the season went well, and I hope 2026 will be another beautiful year,” she says.
One of the defining moments came in July at the Eugene Diamond League, just weeks before she shattered her own 1,500m world record. With expectations high, Kipyegon delivered, cruising to a time of 3:48.68 to lower her previous record set at the 2024 Paris Diamond League. It marked the fifth time she has broken a world record at a Diamond League meeting in three years, and the third season in a row she has done so.
Despite the accolades, Kipyegon describes the festive season as a period of balance, splitting her time between family and a gradual return to training as she prepares for 2026. “We are going back to training. We have just started and let’s see what next year will offer,” she says as Christmas approaches.
Her focus for 2026 is already sharpening. A key target is the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, scheduled for September 11–13, 2026, at Budapest’s National Athletics Centre. The new biennial event will alternate with the World Athletics Championships and is set to become one of the sport’s premier showcases.
According to World Athletics, 26 athletes have already automatically qualified as reigning individual Olympic champions. Kenya will be strongly represented, with Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet and Emmanuel Wanyonyi among those already assured of a place.
Kipyegon says she will finalise her 2026 schedule in the New Year as she continues to enjoy time with her family while maintaining her training rhythm. While she remains undecided about venturing into road racing, she is clear that the 1,500m remains her favourite event.
Beyond titles and records, 2025 also carried an unfulfilled dream. Kipyegon came close to becoming the first woman to run the mile in under four minutes during the Nike-sponsored Breaking4 attempt in June. Although she missed the target by 6.41 seconds, the effort drew global admiration for challenging a barrier long considered unreachable.
“I trained with a mud track at the University of Eldoret when I was preparing for Breaking4. There was no track, but that helped me and has helped many international athletes who come from Iten just to train,” she reflects.
Kipyegon has used her platform to urge the government to fast-track the completion of modern sporting facilities, particularly in athletics hubs such as Eldoret, where the closure of Kipchoge Keino Stadium has disrupted training.
“It makes me unhappy seeing our local athletes train without modern facilities. The government needs to fast-track the completion of stadiums and help universities set up modern training facilities so that young talents can realise their potential,” she says.
As 2026 draws closer, Faith Kipyegon’s dreams remain as vast as her achievements, driven by records broken, titles defended and a relentless belief that the best is still ahead.
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