According to the Kenyan middle-distance runner, the Ethiopian expressed a remarkable gesture when she knelt and sought forgiveness from Kipyegon
Three-time Olympic champion, Faith Kipyegon has once again opened up on the controversial incident between her and Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay during the women’s 5,000m final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but this time round dove deeper into behind the scenes.
Speaking on Citizen TV‘s JKLive Show on Wednesday, August 14, Kipyegon revealed that following the incident which sparked a dramatic night on Monday, August 5 that led to the denial of a silver medal as a result of a disqualification, but thereafter being reinstated, Tsegay approached her the following day during the 1500m heats.
According to the Kenyan middle-distance runner, the Ethiopian expressed a remarkable gesture when she knelt and sought forgiveness from Kipyegon, who on her part accepted in favour of the spirit of competition.
“The following day when we ran the 1500m heats, she came and knelt before me and told me she was very sorry, that ‘it was not you, it was me…please forgive me’. So I just forgave her…this is sports and we will meet again tomorrow and we need each other.
Faith Kipyegon celebrates winning the women’s 1500m at the Paris 2024 Olympics on August 10, 2024. /FAITH KIPYEGON
“I can’t compete alone, so I need someone to compete with, so forgiving Tsegay and then we came to be friends. This is sports, we have to be content with each other and keep breaking records as well as pushing each other to the limit,” she revealed.
Opening up on the incident, Kipyegon recounted being on the verge of leading the 5000m race ahead of eventual winner, Beatrice Chebet in what would have been a rare double Olympic gold on her part, not knowing that the Ethiopian was in hot pursuit.
Amidst the intensity of the race coming into the final lap, Tsegay inched close, though came in too hard, a matter that led to a scuffle that almost led to her being pushed out of the race but she battled and fought her way back, at the same time maintaining her balance.
She emerged second after Chebet who won the race before Sifan Hassan, of the Netherlands, finished third. Kipyegon credited Chebet and fellow Kenyan, Margaret Chelimo, for the teamwork both on and off the track.
“In a race, you have to concentrate a lot; I thank Beatrice Chebet, and Margaret Chelimo for the teamwork we had. Unfortunately, when I wanted to lead the race, the Ethiopian also started moving up,” she explained.
“She came in strong and I protested telling her that she was pushing me inside and out of my tracks. She then started pushing me further inside dramatically. At least I fought back and came back to my lane…it took a lot in my mind. But I forgave and forgot and allowed myself to move on.”
Kipyegon, who wrote history books as the first athlete to win three successive Olympic titles in the 1500m discipline, however, divulged that contrary to assertions that she was disappointed for coming second in the race, she was proud of the achievement.
She clarified that her only disappointment would have been to be disqualified after doing her best.
“I didn’t think I would be disqualified after finishing my race. Most people are saying that I was disappointed in getting a Silver medal, but I was not. I was disappointed by getting a disqualification for not knowing what I did,” she noted.
“I was happy during my first interview that I won a silver medal before I was told that I had been disqualified in my second interview…I was disappointed.”
Kipyegon, in the same interview, revealed that she draws motivation from her daughter, recounting how she went on maternity leave in 2018 after winning the World Championship in 2017, only to return to action in 2019 and the 2020 Olympics in 2021 as a mother.
There, she clinched another gold medal in succession. This sparked shockwaves globally, and Kipyegon revealed that many women were inspired by her incredible journey of defying a testing maternity journey to return to their best in whatever discipline.
“What motivates me is my daughter. Discipline and hard work also play a vital role,” she adds.
Kipyegon is setting her sights on the last Diamond League race of 2024 in September and a race in New York, USA. On Thursday, August 15, she and other Team Kenya athletes will be hosted by President William Ruto in Eldoret.
