Kenya’s track sensation Faith Kipyegon is contemplating a major shift in her career as she strongly hinted at transitioning from her highly successful 1500-meter specialty to the more challenging 10,000-metre race.
Regarded as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time, Kipyegon's legacy particularly in the 1500-metre races has already been sealed, with the 2024 season being her best yet on the tracks.
Not only did she secure her third consecutive Olympic 1500m gold in 3:51:29 at the Paris Olympics, Kipyegon also tested her mettle in the longer 5,000m event, where she remarkably won silver in 14:29.60.
The beloved runner admitted that despite her impressive feats, balancing 1500m and 5000m is not an easy task. She, however, credits her recent cross-country ventures for helping her find the balance between endurance and speed.
“I started my 2023 season with the Sirikwa Classic and it turned out to be a beautiful season. I hope for the best this year and, hopefully, a strong finish in 2025. Cross country helps balance both endurance and speed,” Kipyegon told SportsBoom.
“It’s not easy, and that’s why I compete in cross country. When the cross-country distance changed from 8km to 10km, I was a bit nervous, but it was crucial for my buildup."
The talented athlete also admitted that with age catching up, she was considering transitioning to an endurance runner by testing herself out in the 10,000-metre races. This would effectively mean the end of her 1500m prowess as we know it.
She added: “It’s tough running 1500m, 5000m, and then 10,000m. But I see it as part of the process, of building endurance. Who knows? This might be the year I finally switch to 10k.”
The bigger picture: If Kipyegon somehow transitions from middle-distance to long-distance races, it could potentially mean her earnings from the tracks would take a hit.
For one, shorter race events attract more sponsorships and appearance fees since brands typically favour frequently televised events like the 1500m races, which offer more thrills. The 10,000m races lack a global appeal, with brands leaning more toward middle-distance athletes.
Also, Kipyegon would miss out on the Diamond League payouts, where the 1500m is considered a premier event. Winners in the Diamond League typically earn $10,000 (KSh 1.3 million), excluding bonuses.
Notably, there is no 10,000m event in the Diamond League.
In addition, moving to the 10,000m offers a completely new challenge for Kipyegon, who will come up against stiffer, more experienced competition in the races. This brings uncertainty in terms of podium finishes, meaning a lot of 10,000m runners miss out on bonus payouts.
That said, Kipyegon has already proven her versatility by excelling in both the 1500m and 5,000m on the global stage, making it highly likely that she will also thrive as a long-distance runner.
