Multiple world and Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon has urged young athletes to take pride in running barefoot, emphasizing that humble beginnings can lead to extraordinary success.
Speaking on Citizen TV on Saturday, Kipyegon advised budding runners not to shy away from competing barefoot, especially if they have the talent and passion for running.
“I ran my first cross country barefoot, and it was 2010. I was still a very young girl,” she shared. “It is painful, but at the same time, you are nurturing yourself to get the cross-country tactics. You run cross country barefoot, then tomorrow, you get life because if you do not run barefoot, you will not have the transition to come and have spikes in the future.”
At just 16, Kipyegon won the junior title at the 2010 World Cross Country Championships in Punta Umbria, Spain, running barefoot. Her remarkable performance caught global attention, serving as the foundation of her illustrious career.
Now considered the greatest 1,500m runner of all time, Kipyegon reflected on how running without shoes shaped her journey. “It reminds me how I was running barefoot, and now I am an Olympics and world champion. It makes me very happy, and I hope those youngsters I saw competing without shoes get support and good coaches. They could become the next Faith Kipyegon,” she said.
Kipyegon, who was a star guest at the Chepsaita Cross Country in Uasin Gishu County on Saturday, witnessed young runners competing barefoot, rekindling memories of her early days.
Her achievements since those humble beginnings are unparalleled. She has claimed four world titles—three in the 1,500m and one in the 5,000m—and three Olympic gold medals in the 1,500m. Additionally, she broke three world records in 2023 and further lowered her 1,500m mark in July 2024.
As she prepares for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Kipyegon is determined to continue writing history. “I am preparing for next year’s World Championships and the Diamond Leagues starting in April,” the 30-year-old said.
Faith Kipyegon’s inspiring journey from barefoot runner to world champion serves as a beacon of hope for young athletes, proving that determination and talent can overcome even the humblest of beginnings.
