Kipyegon says she is prepared to handle the pressure at global meeting

Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon set the new world record in the mile at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco on July 21, 2023. [Diamond League]

Record breaker Faith Kipyegon is well prepared to handle pressure at the World Championships from August 19 to 27.

Kipyegon yesterday said breaking the 1,500m, 5,000m, and Mile World records within 50 days came with high expectations.

But managing the pressure, the 1,500m double Olympic champion said, is part of her preparation as she gets ready to double (1500m and 5000m) days to the global showpiece.

Speaking during the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) Sports Personality of the Month of July Awards held at her training base in Kaptagat, Kipyegon said her training was going well.

She promised to team up with her compatriots in the medal hunt at the World Championships.

“I am under pressure to impress in the upcoming Budapest World Championships because of the records I have set recently,” the double World 1,500m champion said.

The record breaker continued, “I will try my best to be myself and to run my own race.”

She said despite the pressure from athletics fans to impress in the Budapest world show, she has not changed her training routine.

“Doubling at the World Championships came as a surprise. But I didn’t change my training programme. I still follow the 1,500m training programme because I had followed the same formula while preparing to break the 5,000m in Paris,” Kipyegon said.

She broke the Mile World record at the Monaco Diamond League on July 21 after shattering the 1,500m and 5,000m records at the Florence and Paris circuits on June 2 and June 9 respectively.

On her 5,000m mission at the Budapest World Championships, Kipyegon said she was training alongside former World Under-20 champion Jackline Chepkoech.

She promised to collaborate with Beatrice Chebet in 5,000m as well as Nelly Chepchirchir and Brenda Chebet in the women’s 1,500m in Budapest.

She said “she will be introducing her legs to the 5,000m” at the global event, with a keen interest in a third 1,500m title.

She was awarded the SJAK/LG sports personality of the Month award for the second time in a row after another reward in June. She was awarded a 52-inch LG TV.

“When I was awarded last month, I promised to perform well and win it again. It was a joke then but it has become a reality. The recent awards have been my biggest motivating factor.

“I now have the extra energy knowing that I am motivating many young women and girls across the globe. The biggest motivation and source of energy came after my daughter (Alyn),” Kipyegon said.

Kipyegon said she will end the season at the Diamond Leagues in September, after the international championships.

LG Communications and Digital Manager GlendaAchieng said Faith was awarded for the Mile world record and her role in motivating young athletes.

“We are proud of Faith Kipyegon’s achievement and we wish her well as she prepares to represent the country at the World Championships. As a county, we want to honour our athletes by ensuring that we have facilities. We are currently pushing the completion of Kipchoge Keino Stadium,” Uasin Gishu Sports executive Lucy Ngendo said.