Celebrated Kenyan athlete Faith Kipyegon from Kenya recounted an emotional memory from the 2024 Olympics in Paris. After a dramatic event during the Women’s 5000m final, the three-time Olympic champion revealed that Ethiopian runner Gudaf Tsegay knelt before her and begged for forgiveness.
Kipyegon, who secured a gold medal in the 1500m and a silver in the 5000m, recounted the intense race where she and Tsegay clashed. The altercation led to Kipyegon’s disqualification, which was later overturned. Despite the tension, Kipyegon emphasized the importance of sportsmanship and mutual respect among competitors.
“After the 1500m heats, she came and knelt before me, asking for forgiveness. I forgave her because this is sports, and we need each other to push ourselves to the limit and break records,” Kipyegon said.
Kipyegon expressed empathy for Tsegay, who left the Olympics without a medal despite competing in multiple events. “I felt for her because she competed in the 1500m, 5000m, and 10,000m but didn’t win a medal. It’s demoralizing after working so hard,” she added.
