It has been a monumental month of June for Kenyan middle-distance runners Faith Kipyegon. In the last three weeks, she has broken two world records (1,500m and 5,000m) and has been celebrated for her efforts in her homeland, receiving many generous gifts. Kipyegon also gave a generous gift of her own dela, fulfilling a promise she made to her father on Father’s Day, giving him a brand-new car.
World Record holder Faith Kipyegon fulfills her promise to her father by gifting him a car pic.twitter.com/tomBbY5j0p
— Kenyans.co.ke (@Kenyans) June 18, 2023
Kipyegon was awarded a Toyota Vitz from an Eldoret-based car dealership, but she asked if she could have a Toyota Probox (van) instead for her father, who resides in Keringet, three hours south of Eldoret. The 30-year-old had previously expressed her desire to buy her father her a car, and now, with her promise becoming a reality, she was deeply moved. Kipyegon praised the dealership for her kind actions and acknowledged that her dream of giving her dad a car was a powerful motivator for her to achieve greatness.
She stated, “It has motivated me to work hard and break more records. I will continue to inspire young people and mothers worldwide, showing them that anything they desire is possible.”
On June 2 at the Florence Diamond League meet in Italy, Kipyegon became the first woman to run under 3:50, running 3:49.11 to break Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba’s 1,500m world record. A week later, at the Paris Diamond League, she recorded a 5,000m world record time of 14:05.20, beating the former record holder, Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gideyin a heroic final lap performance.
The dealership applauded Kipyegon’s remarkable achievements and expressed their unwavering support for Kenyan athletes who consistently bring pride to the nation. “We have rewarded your father because you have shown us that there are no limits to what we can achieve,” said the Rana Auto Motors CEO Sulta Rana to local news. “We are doing this for Kenya because we are proud of our athletes’ accomplishments.”
