In fact I am just a hustler like anyone else. I always remain myself, respecting every person and putting God first. Fame is there but it cannot overshadow my ordinary life.
Track queen Faith Chepng’etich Kipyegon is always on the run, even when she’s not lighting up the track.
But we understand that as a world champion, a wife and a mother, she requires balancing her life to attend to all these demands while remaining calm and focused.
It took more than two hours to access the Olympic 1500m champion at the Global Sports Communications training camp in Elgeyo Marakwet county where she is spending much of her holiday time. Entry is highly restricted.
After about an hour and a half, Kipyegon, dressed in a Nike relaxation kit, walked out of the gate with a beaming smile for the exclusive interview with the Star.
We chatted on a concrete seat in the parking yard where she kept smiling and waving to residents passing by.
Kipyegon, who is 29, was quick to say her celebrity and fame have not changed anything about her.
“In fact, I am just a hustler like anyone else. I always remain myself, respecting every person and putting God first. Fame is there but it cannot overshadow my ordinary life,” she said.
Kipyegon said as a world star she manages fame and ordinary life by ensuring she remains humble.
“I always remain humble and loving to everyone. Without people, including fans, life can be meaningless.”
Ahead of her world-beating achievements in 2023, she said she prepared for the races by focusing on her training and always seeking God’s guidance.
“I am a great woman, hardworking and seeking to motivate others, especially young girls in all that I do. I am just Faith Kipyegon with abundant blessings from God and nothing much more.”
While she’s at home, Kipyegon says, she is purely a family person and a mother to her daughter.
“I have to cook, wash and do all other house roles except when I’m tired after training and need assistance. I have to put everything aside and know that I am a wife and a mother to my daughter,” she said.
She advises women and mothers that they should always believe in themselves and always work hard.
“They should know that in every success there is hard work and determination. Even doctors, nurses or any other professional, has to wake up early and work with determination,” she said.
Kipyegon says she draws inspiration from World Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge whom she says has broken many barriers in athletics and proved that human abilities are unlimited.
“He ran the ENIOS 1:59 in Marathon, which no one believed could be achieved by a human being. He has rare determination that I emulate and I have learned a lot from his hard work. I can achieve like him if I follow the path he always takes,” she said.
Discipline has been the key to her success in athletics and in life.
“When you are up to achieving a world record or top honours, there could be challenges or obstacles on the way but with discipline and hard work everything is possible,” she said.
As a young girl, the eighth of nine children in a Nakuru village, Kipyegon said, she loved running around and playing football and that was enough because she was just enjoying life. Later, however, she discovered her athletics talent and said perhaps she inherited it from her father, Samwel Koech, a local athlete in his day.
She has no regrets in life or athletics and is grateful to God that so far she has been progressing well in everything she does. “I am so grateful because of where I am now and when I look back at my background, it’s amazing,” she said.
Her happiest moments and greatest achievements are when she became a mother and won world records.
For Kipyegon, balancing motherhood and professional athletics is not easy. It means sacrificing time with her daughter, Alyn, especially when she is at the camp training six days a week.
“My daughter misses me a lot and even though I spare some moments for her, it’s still not easy. Whenever I have to see her, she always wants to stick by my side but with time she now understands what I do and whenever she gets chance to be with me she makes the most of it.
“When I am away I think of her a lot. I think of what she is eating and how she is being taken care of because she is a blessing,” Kipyegon said
Kipyegon has a controlled diet to help herself keep fit but she loves cooking and eating her favourite meals – nyama choma and chapati or ugali.
To upcoming athletes, her advice is to work hard, be disciplined and be patient “because I know patience pays off later”.
Through the foundation, I will support girls and women to realise their dreams. I am almost there with the foundation to help in empowering women, not only in athletics, but all round as well
Away from athletics during her off-season, she spends much of her time with her daughter. They recently travelled together to Milan where she was named female athlete of the year.
“It was a great moment and wonderful and beautiful closure for the year 2023. It has been an amazing year for which I thank God,” she says.
Kipyegon said her big target now is the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and she is busy preparing.
After winning races she often meets Kenyans who are always excited to see her and encourage her to continue working hard. “Kenyans are my greatest fans all around the world and I highly value their support and motivation,” the champion said.
She is humbled President William Ruto and Sports CS Ababu Namwamba have been her greatest supporters and offer wise advice.
“It was so emotional and special for me when the President hosted me and my family at State House, gave me a house and a cash reward. I am greatly honoured and grateful to them,” Kipyegon said.
At the training camp Kipyegon says she focuses on training and relaxing. She wakes up daily at 5.45am for morning runs and exercise before other training advised by her coach, Patrick Sang.
She said Sang has been the one person who has literally driven her athletics career to success.
“Since I joined him, he has trained me to be a good professional athlete and also mentor me to be a good person. I feel greatly indebted to him,” she said.
Kipyegon knows the many issues affecting athletes including the doping problem that has affected many runners. She urges everyone in every sport to be clean and compete with their God-given abilities.
“We learn from our previous heroes like Daniel Komen, Milcah Chemos and others. We also have to run clean so that the next generation can also learn from us and follow in our footsteps by running clean and taking athletics as a serious profession,” she said.
Many young female athletes have been being exploited after winning races and getting rich but Kipyegon says her female colleagues should always strive to be themselves and not allow themselves to be used by others.
“Female athletes must be very careful and know who makes good company and who does not,” she said. “Let them be professional and when they make money and use it wisely. The wrong company can be disastrous. Use your money as you and not as we,” Kipyegon said.
On athletics and riches she says, “We run as a job to make money and also motivate the next generation. Athletes should invest wisely the earnings they get because one cannot remain young and they need to secure a better future.”
Kipyegon says she considers herself not rich but just an ordinary hustler. She quite often does the rounds in villages to mingle with members of the community and keep in touch.
Kipyegon attends the AIC Church Kipkorot and says modestly – and incorrectly – that she is not doing much yet to give back to society.
Breaking three world records in a year, winning two Gold medals and closing the year with the trophy for the world female athlete of the year and finally being voted to be the Star Person of the Year, I have inspired many people. It has been great and amazing.
But she is. She inspires and encourages. She also focuses on strengthening her foundation, which will mainly focus on supporting girls in athletics.
“I am thinking of what I can do as an act of faith for my community. Through the foundation, I will support girls and women to realise their dreams. I am almost there with the foundation to help in empowering women, not only in athletics, but all round as well,” she said.
She will also look into supporting education for the girl child.
She is proud Kenyans voted for her to be the Star Person of the Year.
“Breaking three world records in a year, winning two Gold medals and closing the year with the trophy for the world female athlete of the year and finally being voted to be the Star Person of the Year, I have inspired many people. It has been great and amazing,” she said.
Both the government and Athletics Kenya are doing a great job in supporting athletics and other sports, Kipyegon said.
“It’s always a nice feeling to be out there, win a race and be on the podium for the Kenyan anthem to be sung. I feel so proud of my motherland,” she said.
The champion said that had she not been an athlete, she would have been a mentor and she now aspires mentor many athletes and those who have retired.
Away from athletics, she dresses in jeans and is a fan of Buy Kenya Sell Kenya to market the country, especially abroad.
Kipyegon thanks her parents and brother and family members for standing with her alongside all Kenyans.
“Thank you. Kenyans, for standing with me. I appreciate the role played by my daughter, my family and I thank my coach,” the star said. “This has been a special year in my life and I am grateful to God for all his grace.”