Faith Kipyegon, the undisputed queen of the 1500m, has opened up about her career plans, revealing the one condition that might force her to switch from the middle distance to the marathon.
The four-time world 1500m champion remains committed to her specialty, a distance where she has dominated for nearly a decade. Kipyegon’s legacy is already cemented with three world records, first set in Florence in 2023 with a blistering 3:49.11, followed by another record in Paris in 2024 at 3:49.04, and most recently at the Prefontaine Classic in 2025. Her achievements also include four world titles in 2017, 2022, 2023, and 2025, along with three Olympic gold medals in 2016, 2021, and 2024.
Despite this unrivaled success, Kipyegon explained that the only scenario that could push her toward the marathon would be if she were beaten in the 1500m. For now, she insists that she is not done making history and wants to keep inspiring the next generation of athletes, particularly young women.
Kipyegon highlighted how her achievements have motivated fellow Kenyan runners, noting the example of Beatrice Chebet, who once looked up to her during her junior days and is now excelling on the global stage. She believes her dominance in the 1500m has paved the way for others to dream bigger and chase greatness in their own races.
Reflecting on the 2025 World Athletics Championships, Kipyegon described it as a milestone event for women in athletics, with gold medals being claimed across distances from the 800m to the marathon. She emphasized the importance of this collective success as proof that women’s athletics continues to reach unprecedented heights.
Looking ahead, Kipyegon hinted that she might skip the upcoming Commonwealth Games since she already has gold medals from past editions. However, she left the door open, stating that if the opportunity to represent Kenya arises again, she would gladly embrace it.
As her current season winds down, Kipyegon is set to conclude it at Athlos, a women-only athletics event organized by Alexis Ohanian, scheduled for October 10, 2025. For now, the marathon can wait unless someone manages the seemingly impossible task of dethroning her in the 1500m.
