World Athletics Championships 2025: Kenya's Women Shine in Tokyo
Kenyan female athletes dominated the 2025 World Athletics Championships, securing six of Kenya's seven gold medals in Tokyo and showcasing a new era in Kenyan track and field.
Kenya celebrated a standout performance by its female athletes, who powered the nation to second place in the medal table at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Kenyan women claimed six of the country’s seven gold medals, winning every event from the 800m to the marathon. Lilian Odira stunned the athletics world by winning the 800m in a championship record time, improving her personal best by nearly two seconds.
Remarkably, Odira, along with 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon and marathon winner Peres Jepchirchir, returned to elite competition as mothers. Odira had taken several years off to raise her two young sons before rejoining the track in 2023.
“This shows that even as a mother you can still rule the world,” said former world 800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei. “It’s a powerful example for young girls, proving our culture can embrace both motherhood and athletic success.”
Historic 5,000m-10,000m Double
Beatrice Chebet became only the third woman to complete the 5,000m–10,000m double at a World Championships, joining Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba and fellow Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot. Chebet, the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder in both events, overcame fierce competition to secure two gold medals.
Kipyegon’s Fourth 1500m Title
Faith Kipyegon claimed her fourth world 1500m title, matching Hicham El Guerrouj’s record for the most 1500m gold medals at the championships. David Rudisha described her resilience and dedication as “excellence” and an inspiration to athletes worldwide.
Men's Performance and Emerging Concerns
On the men’s side, Emmanuel Wanyonyi was the sole gold medallist for Kenya, winning the 800m. Reynold Cheruiyot and Edmund Serem added bronze medals in the 1500m and 3,000m steeplechase. Janeth Jepkosgei warned that the shift of talent to road races is a “reason to worry” for Kenyan track depth.
Africa’s Other Gold Medallists
Botswana’s Collen Chebinatshipi won the 400m and helped his team claim gold in the 4x400m relay. Tanzania earned its first-ever World Championships gold when Alphonce Simbu won the marathon. Ethiopia and other African nations also featured on the podium with silver and bronze medals.
Kenyan women’s dominance in Tokyo signals a cultural shift, proving that motherhood and elite athletics can coexist and inspiring future generations.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
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