Kipyegon: ‘I knew I was in world record shape’

Faith Kipyegon says she knew she was in world record shape after storming to a 3:49.04 finish to set a new world record on her way to winning the 1500m at the Meeting de Paris, the seventh leg of the Wanda Diamond League series, athletics’ premier one day meet.

The 30 year old Kenyan had made history last year in Florence, Italy when she ran 3:49.11 to become not only the world record holder but also the first woman to go under 3:50 in the 1500m.

She did it again in Paris on Sunday, storming home in 3:49.04 to improve on her lifetime best and world record.

Kipyegon said post race that she knew when was in a world record race.

‘It feels amazing to break the world rcord. I am in the right direction towards the Paris Olympics. I have come from far because of the injury and recovering. After the trials I knew that I was in world record shape, I have run the quickest time in Kenya with the altitude. It showed me that I was capable of breaking the world record again.

‘ We just tried, because everything is possible. Jessica (Hull) was really good, I felt that she was behind me and I had to be careful because you never know if something can happen. But I just relaxed and ran my race.

‘I knew that she is strong because she has broken the area record many times. The crowd was really cheerful, that was why the energy was so strong, it is really pushing us towards the finish line.

‘With my injury I was really scared, because I didn’t know if I was going to make it. But I took my time and trusted my team and stayed out of competition for long. I will absolutely do the double in Paris, in the 1500m and 5000m,’ she said.

The four time world and five time Diamond League champion will be gunning for her fourth Olympic crown with the double after winning the 1500m gold in 2016 and 2021.