Faith Kipyegon has revealed what she eats which makes her stand out from the rest of the pack.
Faith Kipyegon has been dominating track with an unmatched level of consistency and resilience.
The 31-year-old’s record speaks for itself. She boasts a hat-trick of Olympic gold medals in the 1500 metres (2016, 2021 & 2024), and more world titles in the 1500m at the 2017, 2022 and 2023.
She also bagged another medal in an unorthodox event – the 5000m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. She also holds both the Olympic and world record in the 1500 metres, and previously held it in the 5000 metres.
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But surely, all these achievements must be fuelled by some type of food, right? Because otherwise, most of her achievements cannot be matched by a lot of fellow human beings in the process, is it not?
You will be surprised. The answer is far simpler than most might expect. Kipyegon, widely regarded as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time, maintains a diet that is surprisingly ordinary.
Speaking in a 2021 interview with Citizen TV, she dismissed the notion that elite Kenyan athletes follow a highly specialised diet.
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“We just eat normal food. We eat like other people,” Kipyegon said.
She further added on the same platform three years later, fresh off winning her third Olympic gold medal in Paris: “I just eat normal Kenyan food. Ugali, managu (black nightshade), meat—that is healthy food.”
For Kipyegon, nutrition is only one piece of the puzzle. She believes that a combination of factors—including adequate rest, disciplined training, and overall health—play a more crucial role in her success.
“If you sleep well, train well, and stay healthy all through, then you can perform at the highest level.”
While many might assume that elite athletes adhere to strict, restrictive diets, Kipyegon points out that Kenyan runners enjoy a wide variety of foods, including indulgences.
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“It is not limited to the food you eat. I also eat chips and fried chicken. Many people say we are selective about what we eat, but that is not true. We eat everything.”
During the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Kipyegon continued her dominance, she credited one particular food for giving the Kenyan athletes an extra boost.
“Spaghetti really helped us in Paris,” she revealed. However, what truly made a difference was the support from Kenyan fans in the city.
“I am very grateful for the Kenyan fans in Paris that cooked ugali and managu for us. They really came through.”
Kipyegon’s words serve as a reminder that while proper nutrition is important, success in athletics is about more than just diet.
Her ability to maintain peak performance stems from a combination of training discipline, mental toughness, and the support of her community.
