Three-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon earned impressive rewards last season, dominating races globally and securing lucrative prizes and bonuses.
Three months ago, Kenya’s golden girl of middle-distance running, Faith Kipyegon achieved a remarkable feat earning Ksh 42 million ($ 320,000) in a matter of weeks.
The 1500m track sensation, who has become a household name worldwide, continues to dominate her sport, collecting accolades and monumental cash rewards that most renowned athletes only dream of.
From breaking records to clinching podium spots, Kipyegon has been unstoppable this season, sealing her place as one of the most celebrated athletes of 2024.
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It all began in June last year when Kipyegon participated in the Kenyan Olympic trials, where she proved that she was not to be underestimated.
The 31-year-old middle-distance runner cruised effortlessly through the 1500m and 5000m events, securing her place for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
“It has given me a lot of drive and hunger for next season because basically, I achieved so much that I had planned,” Kipyegon shared after her season-closing victory at the Athlos NYC in New York as per Kenyans.co.ke.
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Her first major victory came in July at the Paris Diamond League, where Kipyegon shattered her own world record, completing the 1500m race in 3:49.04.
This historic achievement didn’t just earn her a new personal best; it also came with a significant payday.
For her world-record-breaking performance, Kipyegon took home a cheque worth Ksh 7.7 million (USD 60,000).
Of that, Ksh 6.4 million ($ 50,000) was awarded as a bonus for the world record, and Ksh 1.3 million ($10,000) was her reward for winning the race itself.
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With the Diamond League win behind her, Kipyegon’s eyes were set on the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she would etch her name in history.
Her Olympic journey began with a stunning triumph in the 1500m, as she became the first female athlete to defend her 1500m gold medal twice in Olympic history.
For her stellar performance, Kipyegon earned a Ksh 6.4 million ($50,000) prize, further boosting her earnings.
But that wasn’t the end of her Olympic glory.
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While her compatriot Beatrice Chebet claimed gold in the 5000m event, Kipyegon earned a silver medal in the same event, finishing just behind her.
However, the silver medal did not come with a reward from World Athletics, which only rewarded gold medalists in this category.
Kipyegon’s consolation, though, came from the Kenyan government, which awarded her Ksh 5 million for her Olympic success—Ksh 3 million for her gold medal and Ksh 2 million for her silver.
The accolades kept coming, as Kipyegon competed in several other races throughout the summer and fall.
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One of her most lucrative wins came in Rome, where she won the 1500m at another Diamond League meeting, bagging another Ksh 1.3 million ($10,000).
This victory, in turn, secured her place in the prestigious Diamond League final in Brussels, where she clinched her fifth Diamond League Trophy and a Ksh 3.9 million ($ 30,000) reward.
Kipyegon’s biggest paycheck, however, came in New York, where she competed in the Athlos NYC, a women-only race event featuring top female athletes from around the world.
For winning the 1500m in New York, Kipyegon was awarded Ksh 7.7 million ($ 60,000)—her highest cash prize of the season.
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The three-time world champion insists that Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce still have plenty more to offer the world.
It was this victory that sealed her incredible earnings for the year, bringing her total take-home pay to Ksh 42 million in just four months.
From track events alone, Kipyegon earned a staggering Ksh 27 million ($ 270,000), while the government bonuses and additional rewards pushed her earnings to over Ksh 32 million ($ 270,000).
By the end of the year, the mother of one had managed to make over Ksh 42 million in a short span, all while maintaining her focus on her athletic career and striving for further success.
