For the second time in seven days, Faith Kipyegon put forth a superhuman effort to shatter a world record on the track. On Friday, June 9, the two-time Olympic champion from Kenya broke the world record in the women’s 5,000 meters at the Paris Diamond League Meeting, running 14:05.20—one week after obliterating the world record in the 1500 meters.
Heading into the competition at Stade Charléty, her first 5,000-meter race since 2015, Kipyegon shared on Instagram that she hoped to run a “beautiful race.” She did just that.
For much of the event, the two-time world champion battled former world record-holder Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia. By the 3,000-meter mark, led by pacesetter Beatrice Chepkoech in 8:31, the east African rivals were pulling away from the chase pack together.
With about 700 meters remaining, Kipyegon made her move ahead of Gidey. The 10,000-meter world champion stayed on her heels and tried to make another pass on the backstretch of the last lap. But she couldn’t match Kipyegon’s stellar kick around the final turn.
Kipyegon improved on the previous 14:06.62 world record set by Gidey in 2020. Afterwards, the 29-year-old told reporters she hoped to run a personal best and wasn’t thinking about the world record going into the race.
“I do not know how I made it,” she said. “I just focused on the green light and tried to stay relaxed and enjoy the race. I just did the race and wanted to see what happens. When I saw that it was a WR I was sooo surprised. It was all about giving my best.”
The new record follows another breakthrough performance for Kipyegon at the Florence Diamond League meeting. On Friday, June 2, the mother to daughter, Alyn, ran 3:49.11 to break the previous 1500-meter world record, 3:50.07, set by Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia in 2015.
Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.
