Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon came agonizingly close to breaking the 1,000m world record, clocking an impressive 2:29.21—just 0.17 seconds shy of the all-time mark, at the Xiamen Diamond League in China on Saturday
Faith Kipyegon’s time now stands as the third-fastest in history, just behind her own personal best of 2:29.15 set in 2020.
Australia’s Abby Caldwell secured second place with a time of 2:32.94, while her compatriot Sarah Billings took third in 2:33.45.
Speaking after the race, Kipyegon expressed satisfaction with her performance while emphasizing her primary goal for the year.
“It was all good. It went how I wanted just to start my season in a good way,” Faith said.
“I wanted to do my personal best, which was very close to the world record. It was a very good start to my season. Happy to begin this way, and I hope to stay healthy for the next races.”
The 31-year-old, who last competed in September 2024, has her sights set on another historic season. With the World Championships in Tokyo looming in September, Kipyegon is determined to defend her 1,500m world title and potentially shatter more records.
“The training has been good so far. I hope to continue to be healthy, injury-free, and focused on a beautiful 2025,” she added.
Kipyegon’s performance in Xiamen has set the tone for what could be another record-breaking year. Known for her tactical brilliance and explosive speed, she remains the athlete to beat in the 1,500m—an event where she already holds the world record (3:49.11). She now shifts her focus toward further cementing her legacy.