Faith Kipyegon reveals thought process competing in the women's 1500m after 5000m blunder

Faith Kipyegon reveals thought process competing in the women's 1500m after 5000m blunder

Abigael Wafula 05:28 - 12.08.2024

Faith Kipyegon has opened up on the mindset she adopted running the women's 1500m final after the traumatic 5000m race at the Paris Olympics.

Faith Kipyegon has explained her thought process as she was competing in the women’s 1500m final at the Paris Olympics.

The world record holder noted that as she stepped on the track, her mind was focused on the ‘traumatic’ experience in the women’s 5000m.

Kipyegon started her campaign with the women’s 5000m where she won a silver medal but was disqualified due to obstruction of her opponent Gudaf Tsegay. However, Athletics Kenya filed an appeal to the Olympic organizers and Kipyegon’s medal was reinstated.

However, she was given a yellow card warning going into the women’s 1500m, meaning she had to be extra careful racing since a slight mistake would see her disqualified.

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“When I was on that start line, I was just thinking about what happened in the 5000m and as I said earlier, it took a lot of energy in my mind and I was thinking a lot. To come out and execute after that traumatic race, was just amazing,” Kipyegon said in a post-race interview.

In the women’s 1500m final, she made history as the first woman to win three back-to-back-to-back titles. She won her first gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games before defending her title at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The double world champion extended her winning streak to the Paris Olympics. After the win, she lauded her support system for walking with her after the 5000m misstep.

“So, I really thank all the people who supported me, my team, my management, my coach and my family for talking to me to just cool down and run my race and give it my best. It was good and I really thank God. Running in Paris was just amazing especially with the fans because in Tokyo we ran without the fans,” she added.