Relentless, the Kenyan Faith Kipyegon won gold in the 1,500m for the third time at the World Championships in Budapest, where the Italian Gianmarco Tamberi provided the show on Tuesday evening. Best runner in the world at the moment, Kipyegon is on cloud nine in 2023, and continues to fill a hearty list. “I was running after history today, and I succeeded,” she appreciated, the only runner with three world titles over the distance.
After gold at the 2017 and 2022 Worlds, silver in 2015 and 2019, two Olympic titles in 2016 and 2021, the Kenyan has further enriched her collection. Obviously after having seized world records this year for the 1,500 m (3:49.11 in Florence on June 2), the 5,000 m (14:05.20 in Paris on June 9) and the mile (about 1,616 m, 4: 07.64 in Monaco on July 21). Without seeming to force, she set a steady pace then gradually accelerated, no one being able to follow her on the last lap, to cut the line in 3 min 54 sec 87, far ahead of her Ethiopian runner-up Diribe Welteji, who confirmed at 21 her great talent with a first international podium.
Kipyegon, from Chebaraa in central Kenya, put her career on hold to give birth to daughter Alyn in June 2018 and then return to the top. “I know what women go through after maternity leave. They think it’s the end of their life. I want to prove them wrong,” she told AFP in June at her Kaptagat training camp, where she runs with marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge.
There was no duel with her Dutch rival Sifan Hassan, who remained at the back of the group for most of the race, who still managed to fight for bronze. A nice consolation prize after the cruel end of the 10,000m on Saturday, when she fell a few meters from the finish, while she was fighting for the title. “Only a few weeks ago I was staying on my marathon (winning in London in April on its first try) and I was struggling to regain my speed. We considered with my coach not to do the 1,500 m. I never imagined winning a medal there,” said Hassan.
The two champions will meet again in the 5,000m, where Kipyegon will be the huge favourite. The series, initially scheduled for late Wednesday morning, were moved to early evening by World Athletics, in the face of sweltering weather conditions in the Hungarian capital (around 35 degrees).
At the end of the evening, Tamberi (31) provided a grandiose show, as he has the secret, while conquering his very first outdoor world title, the only one he lacked. Tamberi, who shared Olympic gold with his Qatari friend Mutaz Essa Barshim in Tokyo in 2021, won by clearing 2.36m on his first try. American JuVaughn Harrison also cleared 2.36m but only on his second attempt. Barshim, outgoing triple world champion, this time took the bronze medal (2.33m).
The Italian, half-shaven face as he is used to on special occasions, has thus created a small sensation, he who has been looking for stability in training since last year. “I wanted to write history having won all the major titles, what an incredible feeling! It was well worth all those sacrifices for years. I was a little scared given my feelings in recent days, but I know that I always transcend myself in the final”, he appreciated. Stunned by the heat, like the whole stadium won over to his cause, he even offered himself a little splash in the steeplechase river with the Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali, who had just won the 3,000m steeplechase, while the Italian hit “Sara perche ti amo” resounded in the Hungarian stadium.
