Triple Olympic women's 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon has vowed to compete and defend her title in the next Olympic games.
Kipyegon spoke on Tuesday night after returning from France where she represented the country at the 2024 Paris Olympic games.
She made history after becoming the first woman to win three consecutive Olympic 1,500m titles.
“My primary goal is to defend my 1,500m title and create history. Standing on the podium as the greatest 1,500m runner of all time was incredibly motivational, knowing that I have inspired many young girls. It was a significant achievement for me,” she said.
The world record-holder in the 1,500m race said she faced a challenging moment during the 5,000m race final, where an incident involving Ethiopian track star Gudaf Tsegay almost cost her the silver medal.
“I am grateful that despite the frustration and disappointment I faced in the 5,000m, I was able to achieve this,” she said.
“Being disqualified after winning silver in the 5,000m, and then having the decision reversed was a disappointing and emotional experience for me. I still cannot comprehend how I bounced back and won the 1,500m after the 5,000m drama, making history," she said.
She expressed her gratitude to everyone who supported her during her fruitful campaign in Paris.
“I want to thank everyone who supported me - my fans, my coach, my training partners, and my teammates," she said.
“I thank the government, the ministry, Nock, and Athletics Kenya for their unwavering support. We truly appreciate their support, which has been instrumental in our performance,” she added.
