Kipyegon will be racing in both the 1500 and 5000m races at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Iconic middle and long-distance runner Faith Kipyegon has issued a heartfelt appeal to Kenyan fans as the last group of athletes prepares to depart for Paris for the ongoing Olympic Games.
The two-time Olympic champion in the 1500 meters is aiming to clinch her third and fourth gold medals, not only in her specialist event but also in the 5000 meters, echoing her double gold triumph at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Since the national trials in June, Kipyegon has been diligently preparing for the Paris showdown, recovering from an injury that threatened to derail her season.
“I feel good after managing to come back strongly after getting a little bit of a problem (injury). I thank God that everything is good. Hopefully, as a team, we will do well in Paris,” Kipyegon told The Standard on Saturday.
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Kipyegon, the One Mile record holder, is confident about the team’s prospects. “The (women’s 1,500m and 5,000m) selected at the national trials was strong and we hope if we all do the right thing, I think we will do well and we hope for the medals.”
Having shattered her previous 3:49.11 world record on July 7 by setting a new mark of 3:49.04 in Paris, Kipyegon remains focused on the gold medals. “The number one focus in Paris will be the gold medals in the two events,” she stated during her final training session before departure.
While many observers believe that Kipyegon could threaten the women’s 5,000m world record at the Olympics, she remains grounded.
“I don’t know whether the world record will be there or not but the most important thing is to win and bring the medal back home. My feeling is that everyone will be going for the medals and the world record might not be on the cards,” the four-time world champion said.
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During a training session at the Kip Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Kipyegon urged Kenyan supporters to keep the team in their prayers.
“What I will urge Kenyans is to pray for us as we head for the Paris Olympics and we really hope we will deliver. Hopefully, we can bring back home the gold medals,” she told NTV on Saturday.
Kenya has already competed in two events. The men’s national sevens team, Shujaa, secured a ninth-place finish by defeating Samoa 10-5, while fencer Alexander Ndolo narrowly lost in the women’s epee event, bowing out after a 12-13 loss to Olena Kryvytska of Ukraine in the round of 32.
Kenya, tipped to finish in the top 20 of the medal rankings, places high hopes on track and field events, with Kipyegon being one of the top contenders.
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She will begin her campaign on Friday, August 2, in the 5,000m heats, aiming to reach the final on Monday, August 5. Following that, she will compete in the 1500m semifinals on Thursday, August 8, before striving for her third consecutive Olympic gold medal on Saturday, August 10.
As Kipyegon and Team Kenya head to Paris, the nation rallies behind them, hopeful for another golden chapter in Kenya’s storied athletics history.