Dj Vnyash
Triple Olympic women’s 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon has denied allegations of being disappointed with her silver medal in the Olympic 5,000m race.
In an interview with Citizen TV, Kipyegon explained that she did not anticipate disqualification, but felt disheartened when it was announced. Her disappointment stemmed from not understanding what she had done wrong, which left her with a lot of conflicting thoughts at that moment.
“I didn’t think I’d be disqualified. I wasn’t disappointed for winning the silver medal; I was upset about being disqualified without knowing my mistake. The 5,000m race left me with a lot on my mind,” Kipyegon said.
The Olympic record holder expressed gratitude for the team that successfully appealed the disqualification. She noted that this appeal revitalized her determination, making her realize she needed to aim for gold in the 1,500m race.
“I am thankful to the team and those who successfully appealed; it really rejuvenated my strength and motivated me to go for the gold with the silver in hand.”
During the event, Kipyegon narrowly missed the gold medal, finishing second in the 5,000m race, where Kenyan Beatrice Chebet took first place.
Her silver medal was surrounded by controversy as she was initially disqualified for allegedly pushing Ethiopian athlete Tsegay Gudaf. Kipyegon was disqualified under Rule TR17.2.2 (163.2 (b)), which addresses jostling or obstruction. According to this rule, any athlete who jostles, pushes, or obstructs another during a race can be disqualified based on an umpire’s report.
Team Kenya appealed the disqualification, leading to her reinstatement.
