Faith Kipyegon Breaks 5000M World Record in Paris Diamond League

Faith Kipyegon on Friday achieved an incredible feat after setting a new world record for the women's 5,000m at the Paris Diamond League. 

This remarkable performance came barely a week after she had already broken the 1,500m record in Florence, Italy, with an astonishing time of 3 minutes and 49.11 seconds. In Paris, she went on to completely obliterate the 5,000m record, crossing the finish line in an impressive  14:06.62. 

Beatrice Chepkoech, the world record holder in the 3,000m steeplechase, abandoned the race after 3,000m with Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia in the lead and Kipyegon right behind her. Kipyegon steadily pulled ahead of Gidey after 4,200m, eventually claiming the victory and setting a new world record of 14:06.62, which was faster than Gidey's previous record set on July 10, 2020, in Valencia, Spain. This makes Kipyegon the first Kenyan woman to hold the 5,000m world record.

“No, I did not think about the World Record, I do not know how I made it. I just focused on the green light and tried to stay relaxed and enjoy the race. I just did the race and wanted to see what happens, when I saw that it was a WR I was so surprised,” said the 29-year-old 2016 and 2020 Tokyo Olympics 1,500m champion.

Kipyegon outran Gidey, the Olympic 10,000m winner, to take first place in a season-best time of 14:07.94, with another Ethiopian, Taye Ejgayehu, coming in third with 14:13.31. All Kipyegon wanted, she said, was to compete with Gidey, whom she praised as an incredible female athlete.

“I am so happy, I am very emotional right now and do not know what to say. If my body is healthy, anything is possible,” said Kipyegon.