Faith Kipyegon, one of the biggest superstars in middle- and long-distance running, has withdrawn from the Xiamen Diamond League, which was scheduled for 20 April in China.
Live stream and TV, results, entry lists and meet scheduled for the WANDA Xiamen Diamond League meeting:
It is a big blow for organisers and track and field enthusiasts, who were eager to get a first glimpse of the Kenyan as the Diamond League series kicks off. The reason for the withdrawal is unknown at this time. Kipyegon holds the current world records for the 1,500 metres and the mile, both set in 2023, and is the former record holder for the 5,000 metres.
The Kenyan athletics superstar has won two Olympic titles (Rio and Tokyo) and three World Championship titles at 1500m. Last year in Budapest, she won a unique double when she stormed to victory in the 1500m and 5,000m. Faith Kipyegon was untouchable in 2023, setting three Diamond League meeting records, which also translated to three world records in the women’s 1500m in Florence, where she clocked 3:49.11, the women’s 5,000m in Paris, where she stopped the clock at 14:05.20, and the women’s mile in Monaco in 4:07.64.
Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay broke Faith Kipyegon’s 5,000m world record at the Wanda Diamond League final in Eugene, Oregon, on 17 September 2023. Interestingly, Tsegay will be in the 1500m line-up, and it would have been exciting to see what sort of challenge she would have posed to Kipyegon.
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