The Kenyan takes the lead with one-and-a-half laps to go in just her sixth 5000m and powers to her second gold medal of the 2023 World Championships.
Faith Kipyegon is a double world athletics champion in 2023.
The Kenyan, racing in just her sixth competitive 5000m, clinched victory on Saturday night (26 August) at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, to add to 1500m gold earlier in the week.
Kipyegon maintained her position near the front of the pack for most of the race before making her move with around 600m to go as she overtook defending champion Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia.
From there, a clear front group of her, Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, and fellow Kenyan Beatrice Chebet pulled away as the pace picked up.
Hassan appeared to force the pace even higher on the back straight for the last time, leading to a full-on sprint between the top three down the finishing straight.
But Kipyegon, the world record holder, showed that her relative inexperience in the event was no hindrance as she held off the charge from both Hassan and Chebet to win in 14:53.88.
She celebrated with her fans in the crowd after her lap of honour, giving high-fives out to Kenyan supporters.
Hassan took silver in 14:54.11 while Chebet made it two Kenyans on the podium, finishing in 14:54.33.
“This has been an amazing year for me,” Kipyegon said. “Making history today, winning two gold medals in a championships is what I was dreaming for this season.
“I have been patient waiting to be able to break world records and win double golds. But my dream just came true, it is amazing. I have been pushing myself to the limits and I will continue to push myself in the future.”
Hassan, gracious in defeat, paid tribute to her Kenyan rival.
“Faith was stronger than me today. She’s just broken world records and this year is better than me but I know where I am at.
“These championships have taught me a lot. It has given me more confidence because I moved to the marathon this year and for two years I’ve hardly done any speed work at all. How I was able to sprint at the end I don’t know. I really felt amazing on the last lap and it was only in the last 20 metres I couldn’t hold on.”
Faith Kipyegon’s six 5000m races
- Diamond League, Paris, France (9 June 2023) – 14:05.20 – world record
- Diamond League, Eugene, USA (30 May 2015) – 14:31.95
- World Athletics Championships, Budapest, Hungary (23 August 2023) – 14:32.31 (heats)
- Diamond League, Paris, France (4 July 2015) – 14:44.51
- World Athletics Championships, Budapest, Hungary (26 August 2023) – 14:53.88 (final)
- Kenyan Trials, Nairobi, Kenya (7 July 2023) – 14:53.90
