Faith Kipyegon, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, claims that Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a legendary Jamaican sprinter, served as her inspiration when she decided to go on maternity leave and then return to conquer the globe.
Fraser-Pryce won her fourth global championship in the 2019 international Athletics Championship in Doha, making history as the oldest woman and first mother to win a 100-meter race.
Faith was motivated by that accomplishment to win three gold medals at the World Championships, an Olympic gold in Tokyo, and even break two world records.
"Shelly-Anne really motivated me even to go for the maternity leave when we met in 2019 in Doha and she won a gold medal. I got the courage like we still have the energy to of winning a gold medal after maternity leave and that should be an encouragement to many other athletes," Kipyegon said.
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The accomplished middle-distance runner spoke at Jeff Koinange Live on Citizen TV and discussed her early challenges as a young athlete who ran barefoot and how her success was only the result of perseverance and hard work.
"I chose to run that manner in my first race in Poland because I didn't have shoes. I was competing in the 6km event during the cross country portion of my first international competition. I finished fourth and won the race in 2011," Kipyegon stated of Mercy Cherono's victory.
After an extraordinary, record-breaking year, Kipyegon is the favorite to win the 2023 World Female Athlete of the Year award with 11 nominations.
