Faith Kipyegon's run late Saturday, August 10, at the Paris Olympics sealed Kenya's remarkable campaign for the day after a jinxed start with Eliud Kipchoge's flop at the men's marathon.
Kipyegon edged over her worthy competition to win the 1500-metre women's division with 3:51.29.
This would historically be her third successive gold at the international multi-sport event.
Her feat on Saturday evening attracted accolades from eminent people.
"Faith Kipyegon, the greatest 1500m runner in history, strikes gold for Kenya again and an Olympic record! Your unmatched grit, dedication, and tenacity inspire us all. Kenya is proud of you! Congratulations!" said Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga.
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"The indomitable Faith Kipyegon has done it again! Congratulations on clinching the Gold medal in the 1500M race — the third consecutive in the competition — and setting a new record. You are simply amazing," said President William Ruto.
Faith Kipyegon's feats
Whilst the 30-year-old might have a fairly good career, her feats in 2023 amplified her excellence on the track.
It was in the foregoing year that the Bomet native set three records in her category days apart.
It started in June 2023 at Italy's Florence Diamond League, in which she shattered the 3:50:07 set in 2025 by Ethiopia's Genzebe Dibaba; Kipyegon clocked 3:49:11 to set the new record for women's 1,500m.
Days later, at the Paris Diamond League, the Kenyan set a new world record in the 5000-meter women's division; she clocked 14:05:20 to shatter the 14:06:62 set in 2020 by Letesenbet Gidey, another Ethiopian.
But Kipyegon's 5,000m feat would be short-lived as Gudaf Tsegay, another Ethiopian, shattered it three months later at the Diamond League meeting in Hengelo, Netherlands, after clocking 14:06:62.
She bagged silver at the 5,000m Paris Olympic finals, trailing another upcoming Kenyan ace, Beatrice Chebet, who also won the 10,000m race.
So far, Kenya has bagged 10 medals; four Gold, two Silver, and four Bronze.
Nairobi Leo understands that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the one charged with setting prizes for the medallists in the race.
As it were, Kipyegon would be entitled to about KSh 10 million, being the IOC prize and appreciation from the Kenyan government.
In her case, the IOC would remit $50,000 (equivalent to KSh 6.4 million), which is entitled to a gold medalist, and KSh 3 million from the Kenyan government.
The highest-earning Kenyan in the Summer Olympics will be Chebet, the aforementioned 24-year-old who won the women's 5,000m and 10,000m races.
She is set to take home about KSh 19 million.
Other athletes who bolstered Kenya's hunt for the medals were Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who bagged gold in the men's 800m with 1:41:19.
Wanyonyi is also entitled to the IOC's KSh 6.4 million and Kenyan government's KSh 5 million.
Benson Kipruto, who saved Kenya's face in the men's marathon after bowing out of Kipchoge, is entitled to a government reward of KSh 1 million after clinching third place with a 2:07:00.
