Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon defended her title in style, setting a new Olympic record of 3:53.11 to clinch gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
Kipyegon put on the nitro-burners in the last lap to overcome Olympic 5000m champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands who finished third, having taken charge of the race from the onset.
Briton Laura Muir timed 3:54.50 to finish second as Hassan — who seemed uncharacteristically off-colour — clocked 3:55.86 in third.
For most of the three-and-three-quarter lap race, Kipyegon hanged on the shoulders of Hassan, bidding her time as the Dutchwoman sought to establish daylight between herself and the rest of the pack.
However, with the bell ringing for the ultimate lap, Kipyegon surged past Hassan — who has amassed a reputation for her phenomenal kick in the last lap — faded away.
Kipyegon is the second Kenyan to set an Olympic record after Abel Kipsang timed 3:31.65 to win the second semi of the men’s 1500m yesterday.
It is also the country’s second gold after Emmanuel Korir clinched the men’s 800m final on Wednesday.