Faith Kipyegon

Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon (born 10 January 1994) is a Kenyan middle and long distance runner. Kipyegon is the current world record holder for the 1,500 metres and mile, and the former world record holder for the 5,000 metres. Kipyegon is the only three-time Olympic champion in the 1500 metres race, having won a gold medal each at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro, 2020 Tokyo and the 2024 Paris Olympics. She also won a gold medal in the 1,500 m at the 2017, 2022 and 2023 World Championships and in the 5000 m at the 2023 World Championships.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kipyegon became the first athlete ever to win three consecutive gold medals in the 1500 m women's race, where she also set a new Olympic record. In addition to the 1500 m, she had previously earned a silver medal in the women's 5000 m, after successfully appealing a disqualification.

As a junior, Kipyegon won gold medals at the 2011 and 2013 World Cross Country Championships and in the 1500 m at the 2011 World Youth Championships and the 2012 World Junior Championships. Kipyegon is one of only eleven athletes to win world championship titles at the youth, junior, and senior levels of an athletic event.

Kipyegon was cited as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2017. On 21 November 2024, the University of Eldoret, at its 13th graduation ceremony, conferred its first honorary degree, an Honorary Doctorate of Education, on Kipyegon in recognition of her accomplishments as a world and Olympic champion and for her "humility and grace."

She is nicknamed the "smiling destroyer".