Faith Kipyegon: American Journalist Slammed After Posing Ridiculous Question
- A journalist recently came under fire after what he asked Faith Kipyegon after a race went viral
- Kipyegon had just broken the world record in the women's 1500m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene
- Before the USA Diamond League meet, the reigning world champion in the 1500m and 5000m had run in Nike's Breaking4 attempt
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That Faith Kipyegon is past the stage where she needs to prove herself is beyond question.
Source: Getty Images
Kipyegon has already cemented her place as the greatest middle-distance runner the world has ever seen with her consistent, brilliant performances.
Her recent remarkable showing came in Eugene at the Prefontaine Classic when she set a new world record in the women's 1500m on July 5.
The 31-year-old broke her own world record of 3:49.04, lowering it to 3:48.68.
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Before the Oregon meet, she was the only woman to have run under 3:50 in the 1500m race, and now, she is the only woman to have run a sub-3:50 and a sub-3:49 in history.
Unless something extraordinary happens in September, Kipyegon is headed for her fourth world championship title at the World Athletics Championships.
What question was Faith Kipyegon asked?
Not that anyone deserves such questions, but after all these achievements (we haven't even touched on her Olympic achievements), one would think she should be subjected to respectful or better thought-out questions. It comes with the territory, no?
After the Prefontaine Classic, a reporter in the mixed zone asked her,
“Hey Faith, you’re 5’2″. Could any man the same height beat you in a mile?"
Kipyegon, like many people, was taken aback by the question and could simply say 'sorry?' before the media representative saved her the trouble of trying to find an answer.
Fans online reacted to the awkward question with Andrew LeMay saying,
"This caused me real-life physical pain. What on earth!"
Peter Foot said,
"Cancel accreditation of the 'questioner', effective immediately."
Kimani Kariuki said,
"Very shallow mentality. Respect our athletes."
Nial McGlone said,
"What kind of answer are you even hoping for from a question like this?"
While Alice had a rather radical solution,
"I think women athletes should be entitled to one (1) tarring and feathering of their choice per season."
Faith Kipyegon's Breaking4 attempt
It is impossible to think of the thought process of the journalist to ask such a question, but it possibly stemmed from Kipyegon's recent mile attempt.
The triple Olympic champion tried to become the first woman to run a mile under four minutes in a Nike-sponsored race in Paris on June 26.
Source: Getty Images
She wasn't successful at that time, clocking 4:06.42, but vowed it was only a matter of time before the barrier was breached.
"It’s only a matter of time, I think it will come our way. If it is not me, it will be someone else. I know, one day, one time, a woman will run under 4:00. I will not lose hope."
What next for Faith Kipyegon?
Kipyegon will have another bite at history when she competes at the Silesia Diamond League on August 16.
She will compete in the unconventional 3000m, a race that hasn't seen a world record since 1993 when Waang Junxia ran 8:06.11.
Beatrice Chebet recently ran the fastest time in 30 years in the event when she clocked 8:11.56 at the Rabat Diamond League in May.
Kipyegon's current personal best is 8:23.55, which she ran way back in 2014.
Faith Kipyegon's plans for World Athletics Championships
The Silesia race will come one month before the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Kipyegon will head east as the defending champion in the 1500m and 5000m after a dominant showing in Budapest two years ago.
She won't necessarily be required to participate in the national trials slated for August 1, as she will get a wild card in both events.
Kipyegon, Chebet blast government over poor facilities
Back home, Kipyegon and Chebet called out the government over the poor facilities in the country.
The world record holders and Olympic champions said this when they met Sports Cabinet Secretary, Salim Mvurya.
Kenya's stadium and training tracks remain a grave concern despite the country being a hotbed for talent.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
