Faith Kipyegon, who played to the top as a mother, got her own apartment and a thick bundle of rustling for her 1,500 and 5,000 meter world records.
President of Kenya William Ruto raged when Faith Kipyegon ran the women’s 1,500 and 5,000m world records within a week in June.
Ruto rewarded the hero runner with a three-bedroom apartment and a tax-free banknote worth about 33,000 euros.
According to the Kenyan media, the value of the apartment located in Nairobi’s upscale Park Road area is between 100,000 and 135,000 euros.
– You have earned these every square inch, Ruto said in his celebration speech, which was interrupted a couple of times when the runner’s 5-year-old daughter Alyn grabbed the papers from the president’s hands and climbed into the gentleman’s lap.
The weight increased
Faith Kipyegon, 29, ran the world records for 1,500 and 5,000 meters within a week at the beginning of June. ZumaWire / MVPHOTOS
The story of Kipyegon, 29, is amazing. He was the 1,500m Olympic champion (2016) and world champion (2017) until…
– I thought in 2017 that now is the time to start a family, have a baby and go back to the 2019 World Cup, says Kipyegon.
The daughter was born in June 2018.
– It wasn’t easy to come back, because after giving birth I weighed 63 kilos, which is about ten kilos more than usual. For the first month, I could only run for 20 minutes at a time.
Spouse, 800m Olympic medalist Timothy Kitum and coach Patrick Sang “whipped” during training, Kipyegon has stated.
– Two months after giving birth, I could run for 30 minutes at a time. The coach said it’s going well, so now let’s start training.
In Kenya, Sang has the reputation of being a pop star, as he is also the ME man of the marathon Eliud Kipchogen you trained.
As a mother to the top
William Ruto is the president of Kenya. He generously rewarded the hero runner. EPA / AOP
The Kenyan’s return after an 18-month break from competition has been dynamite: World Championship silver in 2019, Olympic gold in 2021 and World Championship gold in 2022.
– I am stronger than before becoming a mother, because the child brings me so much joy. On the other hand, it’s balancing motherhood and a sports career: if you let go of one, it affects the other as well.
Iltalehti’s athletics expert Arto Bryggaren spouse Heike Drechsler-Bryggare returned to the top of her own career after maternity leave.
– Someone says that after childbirth you learn to tolerate pain in a different way – it can be. It is certain that life will become something much bigger than sports. It’s the best situation, if the pressure is eased and the joy of playing sports remains, comments Arto Bryggare.
Being a mother at the top of a sport is not unusual, but in Africa it is rare. Kipyegon was already a millionaire before his first born. Many Africans hit the nail on the head when the bank account is under pressure and the top car is in the parking garage of the luxury apartment.
– I bet that Kipyegon’s motivation has increased from his previous millions. When he sees that running can affect the quality of life and earn money, he will surely run for years to come.
ME from the bag
Faith Kipyegon’s 5,000m ME came in only the third international 5,000m race of her career. EPA / AOP
The 1,500-meter ME 3:49.11 in the Florence Diamond League on June 2 was expected.
– ME is in my mind and heart, Kipyegon announced before the competition.
The 5,000-meter ME 14:05,20 in the Paris Diamond League on June 9 was a surprise. Kipyegon had only two international races at 5,000 meters before last week’s Friday in 2015. The woman’s previous record was 14:31.95.
– The goal was my own record, and ME was not my plan. I don’t know how I did it. I just focused on the green light hare, tried to stay relaxed, enjoy the race and give it my all. I was very surprised at the finish line to find that I had run ME.
The Kenyan will next compete in the Diamond League on July 21 in Monaco.
– Kipyegon is a great runner for the ton vitosos, because he has a great grip and a great ability to stay at a fast pace. Then tactics work like tactics and it’s nice to go to the games. I believe that he would also run 10,000 meters really hard, says Bryggare.
Sources: Team Kenya and The Star