Paris 2024: Kipyegon shatters own Olympic record to win third gold in women's 1500m

Faith Kipyegon celebrates after winning a record three 1500m title in Paris.[AFP]

Faith Kipyegon cemented her place in Olympic history with a breathtaking performance in the women’s 1500m final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, clocking an astounding 3:51.29 to secure her third consecutive gold medal in the event.

Kipyegon’s victory not only shattered her own Olympic record but also made her the first athlete—male or female—to win gold in the 1500m at three different Olympic Games.

“It’s a big, big achievement,” an elated Kipyegon said after her victory. “I was really looking forward to defending my title from the last two Olympic Games, and I had a dream. It’s amazing to me—I completed it. I’m so, so happy. This is history. I managed to make history. I’ve done it. This is an amazing honor, to win the gold medal in the 1500m. It was my key target.”

The race saw an incredible level of competition, with Jessica Hull of Australia claiming the silver medal in 3:52.56, and Great Britain’s Georgia Bell taking bronze in a national record time of 3:52.61. Bell’s performance was the race of her life, and she expressed her disbelief after the event.

“It’s all a bit of a blur,” Bell said. “I think it’ll hit me a little bit later. On the start line, I really had the feeling that if I just stuck in there, I’d be able to do something special, so I’m over the moon to get a medal.”

Kipyegon, who is also the world record holder in the 1500m with a time of 3:49.04, had already secured an Olympic silver medal in the 5,000m earlier in the Games, finishing behind her compatriot Beatrice Chebet.

However, in the 1500m, a distance she has dominated for years, the Kenyan star sprinted to the finish line to claim her third Olympic title and break the Olympic record she had set at Tokyo 2020.

The race was a historic moment for all three medalists. Georgia Bell’s bronze marked a new British record, while Jessica Hull became the first Australian to medal in the women’s 1500m. Yet, the day undeniably belonged to Faith Kipyegon.

Crowned World Athlete of the Year, Kipyegon has become nearly unbeatable in the 1500m, and her performance in Paris 2024 further solidifies her status as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time. [Additional Reporting by Paris Olympics Media]