Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet return home to Kenya and receive hero’s welcome

Alongside Kipyegon was her compatriot Beatrice Chabet who successfully completed an Olympic double when she emerged victorious in both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres.

With both athletes building on the proud history and heritage that Kenyan middle- and long-distance athletes have built over the last few decades, their return to Kenya saw them greeted by a huge reception at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, cementing both women’s statuses as Kenyan legends.

Kipyegon continues to dominate the 1500 metres – and had a decision to remove her silver medal in the 5,000 metres overturned.

Over the last two Olympic cycles Faitegon has managed to dominate all before her. With a convincing win of the gold in both Rio and Tokyo, she was once again the woman to beat heading into the Paris games.

Having qualified for the final with ease, Kipyegon was happy to be pulled along for the first few laps of the final before taking command of the race at the bell. Accelerating to the front, she gradually pulled clear of her rivals as the lap developed.

Rounding the home turn in the lead, she wouldn’t be for catching and as she powered down the home stretch setting a new Olympic record.

Made the captain of the Kenyan team, Kipyegon’s dominant victory was arguably her best ever.

Speaking after her incredible achievement she said, “It’s a big, big achievement, I was really looking forward to defending my title from the last two Olympic Games, and I had a dream. It’s amazing to me, I completed it. I’m so, so happy.”

Despite the elation of her historic 1,500 metre victory, she would be involved in controversy when it came to the 5,000 metres.

Run out of the gold medal by her teammate Chebet, Kipyegon was initially disqualified for allegedly impeding Ethiopian athlete Gudaf Tsegay. However, the Kenyans were able to challenge the ruling and after further deliberation and Kipyegon’s silver medal was reinstated.

Further history beckons in LA 2028

Still just 30, Kipyegon has the chance to be only the second athlete in history to win four Olympic gold medals in the same event and would become the first woman to achieve the feat if she wins 1,500 metre gold at the 2028 LA Games.

Carl Lewis is the only athlete to have ever won an Olympic athletics event four times when he won the long jump between 1984 and 1996.

With time on her side and a relatively good injury history, gold in LA should be a realistic aim. If she can claim it, she will be crowned as Kenya’s greatest athlete.

Beatrice Chebet ensures she gets in on the history making

Keen to ensure that she could also get in on the act of making history, Beatrice Chebet became the first Kenyan woman to win Olympic Gold in the 10,000 metres when she outlasted Italy’s Nadia Battocletti down the home stretch to win her and Kenya’s first ever gold in the event.

The world record holder over the distance, Chebet has defeated all before her this season and would have been delighted to cap off a memorable season with Olympic gold.

Her 10,000 metre title came after she had already kicked off Kenya’s gold medal charge by storming to 5,000 metre gold. In what was a highly tactical race, it was Kipyegon who led the field through until the final lap, with Chebet happy to be towed along.

As the pair hit the home stretch, Kipyegon gamely tried to hang on but Chebet made her move. Breezing past her opponent, she powered up to take home the decisive victory.

Speaking after her double, she expressed how hard winning both the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres had been, “To do the 5,000m and 10,000m is not something easy. But just focus, and know that you can achieve. Just believe in yourself. I believed that I can do it.”

Just 24, it could be argued that by the time the LA games come around she should be at the peak of her powers. With Kipyegon bidding for a fourth 1500 metre gold, Chebet will be aiming to replicate her teammates effort by repeating her double success in four years’ time.

Kenya top African medal table

Thanks to the incredible achievements of Kipyegon and Chebet, Kenya has reaffirmed its status as a sporting powerhouse and shown the world how hard work and perseverance can lead to the top. Their journey to success is an example of the importance of striving for the best and making informed choices in any field.

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