Faith Kipyegon completes Olympic three-peat, bags gold in 1,500m

Faith Kipyegon completes Olympic three-peat, bags gold in 1,500m

Kenya's Faith Kipyegon celebrates after the women's 5000m final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 5, 2024. (Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP)

Faith Kipyegon on Saturday night inscribed her name in the annals of history as the greatest 1,500m runner after she showed her competitors a clean pair of heels earning Kenya her fourth gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

En route to victory, Kipyegon deployed a tactical race and stuck to her plan. She stayed with the leading pack but with less than 250m to go she surged forward before engaging the front gear, crossing the line in 3:51.29 - an Olympics record.

Coming to the Games, Kipyegon had hoped to bag two golds but in 5,000m, she fell short losing the top honours to compatriot Beatrice Chebet who is enjoying a rich vein of form.

Chebet, 24, claimed gold in two disciplines, the other coming in women's 10,000m.

It was a rather good evening for Kenya in Paris with Emmanuel Wanyonyi also beating his closest challenger, Canadian Marco Arop in a photo finish to claim gold in men's 800m while Ronald Kwemoi settled for silver in the men's race behind Norwegian Jacob Ingebrigtsen who timed 13:13.66.

Kenya has so far bagged 10 medals - 4 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze, and will be aiming to extend this tally Sunday morning when Hellen Obiri, Peres Jepchirchir and Sharon Lokedi line up in the women's marathon.

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