Kipyegon motivated by Fraser-Pryce after motherhood

Double Olympic Champion Faith Kipyegon says she drew inspiration from Jamaican sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to go for her maternity leave then come back to conquer the world.

In 2019 during the World Athletics Championship in Doha, Fraser-Pryce won her fourth world title, becoming the oldest woman and first mother to win a 100m race.

That feat inspired Faith to win an Olympic gold in Tokyo, three World Championship golds and even shattered two world records.

“Shelly-Anne really motivated me even to go for the maternity leave when we met in 2019 in Doha and she won a gold medal. I got the courage like we still have the energy to of winning a gold medal after maternity leave and that should be an encouragement to many other athletes,” Kipyegon said.

The middle distance great was speaking at Jeff Koinange Live on Citizen TV where she recounted her early struggles as an upcoming athlete running without shoes and how her success was purely a result of hard work and determination.

“I didn’t have shoes in my first race in Poland so I decided to run that way. It was my first international race I was competing in the 6km race during the cross country Mercy Cherono won the race I was fourth and I won the race in 2011,” Kipyegon said.

Kipyegon is among an 11-person nominees list for the 2023 World Female Athlete of the Year award and is favourite to win after an extra-ordinary, record-breaking year.