Three-time world 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon

Faith Kipyegon has seen her 1,500m world record ratified, giving her more motivation, as she looks for more glory at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.

Faith Kipyegon is looking for further glory at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan and she has received big motivation following the ratification of her world record.

Kipyegon featured in the heats of the 1,500m on Saturday, winning Heat 3 in 4:02.55, but it came a few minutes after she had received news that her world record, which she set in Eugene in July, had been ratified by World Athletics.

The three-time world champion, who is favourite to make it four in Tokyo, broke her own 1,500m world record at the Prefontaine Classic, the Eugene Diamond League on July 5, clocking 3:48.68 to shave off 0.36 from the world record of 3:49.04 that she set in Paris, France on July 7, 2024.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

Kipyegon tracked the pacemaker closely through 400m (1:01.61) and 800m (2:03.17) before kicking hard on the back straight and charged towards the finish line, crossing it in 3:48.68 to win by almost three seconds.

“The changes were that I was preparing myself for something special, which was to run under four minutes in a mile, and I think I pushed myself, getting better and better toward the 1500m,” Kipyegon told World Athletics about the race which was run just a week after her failed attempt to run the mile under four minutes.

“So, I knew it was possible to still run under 3:49. This is the road to Tokyo, and I would say I am in the right direction,” she added.

Kipyegon has now lowered the 1,500m three times, since breaking it in June 2023 in Florence and with her great form, there will be no surprises if she does it again in Tokyo.