President William Ruto on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, honored double world champion Faith Kipyegon with the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (EGH).
Ruto, while awarding the current world record holder for the 1500 metres and miles described her as an an inspiration to all young men and women.
“Today, I have conferred upon our world-beating athlete Faith Kipyegon the rank and status of the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (E.G.H.), the highest honor our country awards its citizens who illuminate the path of excellence. She has earned her place at the very top, from running barefoot to breaking two world records within a year is the ultimate heroism,” the President said during his Madaraka Day speech.
“Faith’s journey is an inspiration to all our young and aspiring athletes,” he added.
The latest accolade comes barely a day after the 29-year-old won the World Athletes of the Year for 2023 for the Women’s track category alongside compatriot Kelvin Kiptum who won the Men’s out of stadia category.
Faith Kipyegon set world records at an incredible three distances during a season in which she also achieved a golden double at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23.
Faith Kipyegon’s incredible year
First, the 29-year-old Kenyan improved the world 1500m record to 3:49.11 in Florence, taking almost a full second off the previous mark.
Just one week later, and despite having raced the 5000m just twice before, she improved the world record for that event, too, clocking 14:05.20 in Paris to shave 1.42 seconds from the old record.
Her third world record came in Monaco, where she smashed the previous mile mark by five seconds, clocking 4:07.64. Then, in Budapest, she won her third senior world 1500m title and her first world 5000m crown.
