What Faith Kipyegon Earned for Winning Two Gold Medals in Budapest

What Faith Kipyegon Earned for Winning Two Gold Medals in Budapest

Edwin Kiplagat
August 27, 2023 at 9:10 AM
  • Faith Kipyegon is on top of the world once again after winning her third world title in the 1500m
  • She has now won the 1,500m and 5000m titles at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Hungary
  • Kipyegon also won the 1,500m gold at the Olympic Games in both 2016 and 2021

Faith Kipyegon's historic year continued on Tuesday night as she claimed her third 1,500m world title at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. The legendary Kenyan led the race from start to finish.

Prize money is a key part of major athletics events like the world championships and the Diamond League circuit and athletes have something to fight for other than pride.

Faith Kipyegon, 2023 World Athletics Championships, Sifan Hassan, Kenya, Diamond League
Faith Kipyegon of Team Kenya reacts after winning the Women's 1500m Final. Photo by Hannah Peters.
Source: Getty Images

The 29-year-old has been around for a while now and has earned hundreds of thousands of dollars in her career so far. She has won three Diamond League titles, two Olympic 1,500m titles, and now three world titles in the 1,500m.

All those accolades don't come with just a shiny trophy but also some good cash. If you factor in sponsorships and endorsements, Kipyegon could be one of the richest athletes in Kenya right now.

Moreover, she staved off the challenge of long-time rival Sifan Hassan to win the 5,000m world title on Saturday night, August 26. Her resume is now stacked.

There are four Diamond League meetings left, and the final is in September in Oregon, so the world record holder could have the greatest year of any track and field athlete.

Kipyegon's earning for winning gold

Around 2,000 athletes from some 200 countries are taking part in the global track and field competition. The top 8 in individual and relay events will get prize money and any athletes who set a world record will get an award of $100,000.

A total of $8,498,000 in prize money will be on offer at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

Position

Prize money

Gold

$70,000

Silver

$35,000

Bronze

$22,000

Fourth

$16,000

Fifth

$11,000

Sixth

$7000

Seventh

$6000

Eighth

$5000

Kipyegon won gold, so she will be entitled to $140,000. When converted to Kenyan shillings, she will make over Ksh20 million (1USD=145Ksh).

The Kenyan government is expected to reward her and other Kenyans for winning a medal. She has broken three world records this year and won multiple 1500m races in the Diamond League, so Kipyegon would have been awarded a lot of money for that as well.

If she wins the Diamond League final in September, she will earn a further $30,000 (Ksh4mil).

Is Kipyegon the GOAT?

Sports Brief earlier ranked the top 5 greatest Kenyan athletes of all time. Legendary marathoner, Eliud Kipchoge, is undoubtedly Kenya's greatest athlete.

Kipyegon is in contention as the greatest Kenyan female athlete of all time. She has won everything in her career and can add to that since she is only 29.

Authors
Edwin Kiplagat photo
Edwin Kiplagat
Edwin Kiplagat has five years of experience in journalism working as a Sports Editor at Africa Insight Communications and ESPN. Edwin Kiplagat is a Bachelor's Degree holder in journalism from the Multimedia University of Kenya.