Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon cemented her status as the queen of middle-distance running after storming to her fourth world 1500m title at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The 31-year-old controlled the race from the start, before surging ahead in the final lap to claim victory in 3:52.15, leaving her rivals trailing nearly three seconds behind.
Her triumph marked a historic milestone, as she joined Moroccan legend Hicham El Guerrouj as the only athletes in history to win four world 1500m titles. It also extended her dominance in global competitions, adding to her three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the event.
With this win, Kipyegon has now secured eight global gold medals across her career, equaling Jamaican sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Ethiopian great Tirunesh Dibaba for the most by a woman in individual events.
“I just want to thank God…I don’t know where to start and finish, but I want to thank God that I’ve managed to defend my title for the fourth time and this was my dream, just to defend my title in the 1,500 for the fourth time and just keep making history,” she told journalists after the historic win.
The race also delivered a Kenyan one-two finish, with Dorcus Ewoi powering through for silver, while Australia’s Jessica Hull settled for bronze.
Despite the strong competition, Kipyegon’s unmatched finishing pace once again proved decisive, demonstrating why she remains unbeaten in global finals for more than four years.
From running barefoot to school in her village as a child to becoming the world record holder, Kipyegon’s journey continues to inspire.
She is now setting her sights on another possible double in Tokyo with the women’s 5,000m heats beginning later this week.
