At only 25, double Olympic champion, Beatrice Chebet, has risen to dizzying heights in the world of athletics. She is the Olympics 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres champion and also holds the world record over the two distances, yet she is yearning for more.
As she prepares to compete in the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo across September 13-21, she has set an ambitious target of being the first woman to hold both Olympics and world titles over the two races.
She says her rise from junior to senior category motivates her to work harder. She keeps tabs on what people say about her.
“I feel proud of what I am doing, particularly if my performances have changed someone’s life,” says Chebet.
"When I run and compete clean, I motivate others. That way, I send a message out there that we should be fair in competitions.... Short cuts are dangerous."
She advocates for clean sports.
“When I run and compete clean, I motivate others. That way, I send a message out there that we should be fair in competitions…. Short cuts are dangerous.” Chebet advises upcoming athletes to avoid peer pressure and quick fixes.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day. One can’t plan today and expect miracles to happen tomorrow. It takes time and patience,” Chebet, who describes herself as a strong woman and a go-getter says.
About being coached by her husband, Chebet says: “It is strictly business…one can never tell whether Peter Bii is my husband or not.” She became the first woman in history to run the 10,000m in less than 29 minutes, and the first Kenyan woman to hold the world record over the distance.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Chebet ran 14:28.56 to win the Olympics 5,000m title, beating defending champion Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands, and reigning world 5,000m champion Faith Kipyegon. She went on to win the 10,000m title in 30:43.25, becoming the first Kenyan to achieve the feat.
-Ayumba Ayodi