Tokyo 2020 - Faith Kipyegon dissapears under Kenyan flag after setting new 1500m Olympic record
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Updated 07/08/2021 at 04:31 GMT
The Kenyan finished in 3:53.11 to break the Olympic record, becoming just the third athlete to retain an Olympic 1500m title after Sebastian Coe and Tatyana Kazanika. Team GB's Laura Muir took second behind Kipyegon, breaking the British record in the process. You want it? We have it. Stream every Olympic event live on discovery+.
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Faith Kipyegon went missing after her stunning women’s 1500m gold, going prone and wrapping herself in the Kenyan flag.
The 27-year-old had just become the first female Kenyan athlete to win consecutive Olympic golds, crushing the existing Games record in the process with a time of 3:53.11.
Becoming a mother in June 2018, Kipyegon took a full year off from running between Rio and Tokyo, only to turn up and blitz the competition on Saturday.
“I dedicate this to my daughter,” she said.
This is really special, winning as a mum. She was watching and I know she is really happy, excited, when I go back to the village I’m going to call her and we talk more.
The Kenyan had been level with Sifan Hassan in the early stages, as the Dutch woman attempted to clinch her second gold in Tokyo.
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Hassan had already triumphed in the 5000 metres event, but Kipyegon tore away in the closing stages to take glory.
“I was feeling fresh," the Kenyan said.
“And I thought to myself, it’s time to go now, because I knew other runners are very strong in the home straight. And I know it’s time to go.”
With Hassan taking bronze, silver was won by Team GB’s own Laura Muir, who smashed the British record in a phenomenal performance.
Having come agonisingly close to the podium on several occasions, the 28-year-old Scot sped past Hassan on the final stretch to finish in 3:45.50 and take second.
“I can’t put it into words how much it means to me,” she told Eurosport’s Greg Rutherford.
I’ve missed out on a podium finish at a global level so many times and never got on the podium.
“My very first global medal is at an Olympics and it’s a silver against that field in a British record time. I could not wish for anything better.”
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