Three-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon, double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet, and freshly minted world marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir claimed gold for Kenya at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025.
Faith Kipyegon stormed to a historic fourth world 1500m title as the Kenyan great extended her streak of dominance with a fifth consecutive global gold in the event.
The 31-year-old matched retired men’s world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj as the only other athlete in history to amass four 1500m titles at the championships.
Not only is the world record holder unbeaten in the past five global finals, but excluding heats, she has not suffered defeat over the distance for more than four years.
Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet and Peres Jepchirchir Win Gold for Kenya at Tokyo World Athletics 2025
This was Kipyegon’s fourth world title in the event, and earlier this season she broke her own world record with a time of 3:48.68. She is also a three-time Olympic champion over the distance.
Although she couldn’t match her own sensational world record set in Eugene, her winning time of 3:52.15 was still almost three seconds quicker than compatriot Dorcus Ewoi, who took silver in a personal best of 3:54.92.
Beatrice Chebet secured Kenya’s first gold medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, claiming the women’s 10,000m title with a devastating final kick that saw her cross the line in 30:37.61.
The 25-year-old Olympic champion and world record holder delivered when it mattered most at the Japan National Stadium, producing a scorching final 200 metres in just 27.21 seconds despite the stifling conditions to add the world title to her growing collection of honours.
Chebet dropped defending champion Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay with 200m to cruise to victory in 30 minutes and 37.61 seconds at the biennial event.
She becomes the fourth Kenyan to win the world 10,000m title after Sally Barsosio in 1997, Linet Masai in 2009, and Cheruiyot in 2011 and 2015.
Chebet, who holds the 5,000m and 10,000m world records, will be seeking a double in the 5,000m.
Also Read: Beatrice Chebet Bags Kenya’s First Gold in Tokyo World Athletics Championships
Peres Jepchirchir added to Kenya’s tally by winning gold in the women’s marathon on Sunday, September 14.
After 42km on the streets of Tokyo, Jepchirchir and Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa entered the Japan National Stadium shoulder to shoulder, setting up a dramatic showdown for the title.
Assefa surged ahead on the back straight, but Jepchirchir responded with a powerful kick in the final 100m, ultimately edging her rival to win in 2:24:43, two seconds clear. The Kenyan star adds this world title to her Olympic gold from the Tokyo 2021 Games.
Kipyegon, Chebet and Jepchirchir to Pocket Ksh 9 Million Each
The trio not only clinched gold medals for Kenya but are also set to pocket millions for their outstanding performances.
Winners at the 2025 World Athletics Championships will share more than US$8.5 million (approximately Ksh1.1 billion) across nine days of action at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
For individual events, gold medalists such as Kipyegon, Chebet, and Jepchirchir will each receive US$70,000 (about Ksh9 million). Silver medalists like Dorcus Ewoi are entitled to US$35,000 (Ksh4.5 million), while bronze medalists will take home US$22,000 (Ksh2.8 million).
Athletes finishing between fourth and eighth place will also be rewarded, earning between US$16,000 (Ksh2 million) and US$5,000 (Ksh650,000).
Relay races, including the men’s, women’s, and mixed 4x400m, carry higher prize money. Gold medal relay teams will receive US$80,000 (Ksh10.3 million) to be shared among the four runners, while silver and bronze winners will get US$40,000 (Ksh5.1 million) and US$20,000 (Ksh2.6 million), respectively.
Additionally, there is a special world record bonus of US$100,000 (Ksh12.9 million). Any athlete who sets a new global mark in Tokyo will earn this reward on top of their medal prize.
Beyond the World Athletics prize money, the trio are also set to pocket Ksh3 million each for winning gold after President William Ruto’s administration raised rewards by up to 400 percent bringing the total to Ksh 9 million.
Silver medalists will receive Ksh2 million, up from Ksh500,000, while bronze medalists will take home Ksh1 million, up from Ksh350,000.
Also Read: Faith Kipyegon Wins Fourth World Title in Women’s 1500m Final in Tokyo
World Athletics Championship Prize Money
Prize money for individual events :
- 1st: US$70,000
- 2nd: US$35,000
- 3rd: US$22,000
- 4th: US$16,000
- 5th: US$11,000
- 6th: US$7,000
- 7th: US$6,000
- 8th: US$5,000
Prize money for relay events:
- 1st: US$80,000
- 2nd: US$40,000
- 3rd: US$20,000
- 4th: US$16,000
- 5th: US$12,000
- 6th: US$8,000
- 7th: US$6,000
- 8th: US$4,000
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