Ranked! Top 5 Greatest Kenyan Athletes, From Kipchoge to Kipyegon

• Who is Kenya's greatest athlete of all time? Many people would agree Eliud Kipchoge is the best
• For decades, Kenya has been the standard in middle and long-distance running
• Sports Brief ranks the greatest Kenyan athletes of all time

Ever since the late Wilson Kiprugut won Kenya and Africa's first Olympic medal at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Kenya has become a powerhouse in athletics, winning medals and breaking long-standing records.

He paved the way for Naftali Temu, who became the first Kenyan to win an Olympic gold medal, which came in the 1968 Mexico City games. In fact, the 1968 games saw Kenya announce itself on the world stage. An indisposed Kipchoge Keino won gold and silver in Mexico City, ushering in an era of dominance.

As the 2023 World Athletics Championships edges closer, it got us wondering who are Kenya's greatest athletes of all time. Considering the East African country has dominated middle and long-distance running for decades, there are a few names that are in contention.

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Athletics

The criteria include longevity, world records, world and Olympic titles, and influence on the sport. Moreover, I'm only focusing on athletics since it is the only sport that Kenya has thrived for decades.

Top 5 greatest Kenyan athletes

Honourable mentions: Ezekiel Kemboi, Naftali Temu, Pamela Jelimo, Jemima Sumgong, Henry Rono, Ben Jipcho, Mary Keitany, Paul Tergat, Janet Jepkosgei, Samuel Wanjiru, Vivian Cheruiyot, Hellen Obiri, Peres Jepchirchir

5. David Rudisha

When one thinks of David Rudisha's career, his world record at the 2012 Olympics in London comes up. It is arguably the greatest performance by a Kenyan at the Olympics. In front of a packed Olympic arena, the Kenyan put on a two-lap masterpiece. His immaculate strides saw him win the 800m race in 1:40.91, per World Athletics.

He led the race from the first bend to the finish line, and his splits were unbelievable. Interestingly, he broke Sebastian Coe's (World Athletics president) 16-year record. His world record still stands to this day, and no one has come close to breaking it.

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4. Brigid Kosgei

A day after Eliud Kipchoge ran the first-ever sub-2-hour marathon, Brigid Kosgei smashed Paula Radcliffe’s 16-year world marathon record at the 2019 Chicago Marathon on October 13. She finished the race in 2 hours, 14 minutes, 4 seconds, a record that still stands to this day.

She has not won an Olympic (2nd in 2020 Tokyo) or world title yet but breaking a long-standing women's marathon record is a feat few expected her to achieve. She has also won five marathons in her career. She made many women runners believe they, too, can break the barriers in women's athletics.

3. Faith Kipyegon

It has been a phenomenal year for Faith Kipyegon. In 51 days this year, she shattered three world records in three different distances.

• June 2: At the Florence Diamond League, she smashed the 1500m world record by running 3:49.11, the first woman to run 1500m in under 3:50.
• June 9: A week later, at the Paris Diamond League, she broke the 5000m record, beating record holder Letesenbet Gidey. She registered a time of 14 minutes, 5.20 seconds.
• July 21: In Monaco, she smashed the world mile record, winning the race in 4:07.64.

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She is a two-time world and Olympic champion in the 1500m and a four-time Diamond League winner. No one comes close to that resume. She might be the greatest female athlete in Kenya.

2. Kipchoge Keino

Kipchoge Keino, popularly known as Kip Keino, was the first Kipchoge. Kip Keino is a pioneer and an inspiration to thousands of Kenyan athletes. he took part in the 1964 Olympics and finished 5th in the 500m.

Kip Keino announced his arrival at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. He won gold in the 1500m and silver in the 5000m. In the 1972 Munich Games, he won gold in the 3,000m steeplechase and also won a silver medal in the 1,500m.

He retired in 1973, but his influence is still being felt even today.

1. Eliud Kipchoge

There's not much to say about Kipchoge at this point. The man is superhuman. He has won 15 marathons, set the marathon world record twice, and won Olympic gold twice.

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Kipyego to run Berlin Marathon

Sports Brief earlier reported that world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge will take part in the 2023 Berlin Marathon.

The Kenyan runner shaved 30 seconds off his own world record in last year's event

Kipchoge has only lost once at the event, in 2013 when he finished second in his second career marathon. He is also eyeing a third Olympic marathon gold in Paris in 2024.