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The double world and Olympic champion has raked in big bucks from her record-breaking performances in Florence, Paris and now Monaco
Double Olympic and world champion Faith Kipyegon recorded yet another milestone in her remarkable 2023 season when she broke a third world record, this time smashing Sifa Hassan’s four-year mile record of 4:12.33, by clocking 4:07.64 at the Monaco Diamond League on Friday night.
It was the third world record for Kipyegon in just 50 days after also breaking Genzebe Dibaba’s eight-year 1,500m world record in Florence on June 2 after running 3:49.11.
She followed it up with another world record in 5,000m just a week later when she timed 14:05.20 at the Paris Diamond League.
With those three world records, Kipyegon has made over Ksh25 million from the track alone in under two months, showing just how lucrative setting such milestones can be.
Diamond League races have a prize pool of $25,000 (Ksh3.5 million) of which $10,000 (Ksh1.4 million) goes to the race winner, $6,000 (Ksh852,562) to second place while third place earns $3,500 (Ksh497,327). The cash rewards goe up to eighth place, which fetches $500 (Ksh71,046).
Then there is a bigger reward of $50,000 (Ksh7.1 million) the minimum bonus awarded for breaking a World Record. It means for her feat in Florence, Paris and now Monaco, Kipyegon is guaranteed at least $180,000 (Ksh25,576,861), a combined $150,000 (Ksh21,314,051) for her three world records and $30,000 (Ksh4,262,810) for coming first in the three races.
There is likely to be more cash rewards from her sponsors as she stays on course for the Diamond League Trophy during the Final which also earns $30,000 (Ksh4,262,810) for its winners.
Having won in Doha, Florence, Paris and now Monaco, the mother of one is already among the most consistent performers who will also share a $200,000 (Ksh27.7 million) prize at the end of the season.
“There will be 10 athletes in total that receive an award from this prize money pot, one male and one female respectively, in the following disciplines: sprints, hurdles, distance, jumps, and throws,” reads part of the World Athletics’ Diamond League regulations.
Kipyegon can also look forward to more cash rewards back home following the government’s promise of awarding Kenyan athletes Ksh5 million for each record they break.
"Going forward, we have decided as the government of Kenya that any Kenyan who participates in a world event and breaks a world record, unlike in the past where there was no recognition, going forward, for any world record broken by a Kenyan, Kenya is going to award Ksh5 million," President William Ruto announced last month when awarding Kipyegon Ksh5 million and a house for hear feat in Florence and Paris.
As the 29-year-old prepares for the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary next month, where she will be doubling in 1,500m and 5,000m, her achievements serves as inspiration to many budding runners that athletics is indeed a lucrative career that can change their lives.
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