Tokyo World Athletics Championships 2025: Faith Kipyegon’s Pursuit of a Historic Fourth World 1500m Title

By: Denise N. Fyffe

Few athletes have dominated middle-distance running the way Faith Kipyegon has over the past decade. As the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships approach, all eyes will once again be on the Kenyan superstar as she attempts to secure a record fourth consecutive world title in the women’s 1500 metres.

Already a legend of the sport, Kipyegon’s résumé speaks for itself:

Four Olympic medals – Gold in the 1500m (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2021, Paris 2024) and silver in the 5000m (Paris 2024).
Three World titles in the 1500m – London 2017, Eugene 2022, and Budapest 2023.
World Record Holder – 1500m in 3:48.68 (Eugene 2025).
Near-historic 3000m performance – 8:07.04 in Chorzow, the second-fastest time in history, just one second off Wang Junxia’s long-standing record.

For Kipyegon, Tokyo offers more than another chance at gold — it is an opportunity to etch her name even deeper into athletics history as the most dominant 1500m runner of all time.

Nelly Chepchirchir: Kenya’s Next Star Rising

Alongside Kipyegon, Kenya will also be represented by Nelly Chepchirchir, who has carved out her own dominant season in 2025. The young star has been nearly unbeatable on the Diamond League circuit, winning five major races, including:

1000m in Monaco – 2:29.77
1500m in Doha – 4:05.00
1500m in Rabat – 3:58.04
1500m in Paris – 3:57.02
1500m in Zurich – 3:56.99 (Diamond League Final victory)

Chepchirchir’s consistency and tactical sharpness make her a formidable contender — and perhaps the athlete best positioned to challenge Kipyegon on the global stage.

Ethiopia’s Triple Threat

Ethiopia enters Tokyo with one of the deepest fields in women’s middle-distance running.

Diribe Welteji – A proven championship performer, she claimed bronze at Budapest 2023 and is in superb form after running 3:51.44 at the Prefontaine Classic, the third-fastest time in the world this year.
Freweyni Hailu – Two-time World Indoor Champion (1500m in Glasgow 2024, 3000m in Nanjing 2025), showcasing exceptional versatility.
Birke Haylom – World U20 champion (Cali 2022), now stepping into senior-level competition with growing confidence.

With this trio, Ethiopia will be looking to break Kenya’s stranglehold on the 1500m.

Jessica Hull: Australia’s Record-Breaking Hope

Australia’s Jessica Hull continues to rewrite Oceania’s middle-distance records and establish herself as a medal contender. After securing Olympic silver in Paris 2024 (3:52.56), Hull has enjoyed another stellar season:

Season’s Best – 3:52.67 (Paris Diamond League)
Oceanian Records – Mile in 4:13.68 (London), 1000m in 2:30.96 (Monaco)

Hull’s ability to compete with the very best has placed her firmly in contention for another global medal in Tokyo.

Nikki Hiltz: The American Contender

The United States will look to Nikki Hiltz, who has been in career-best form. Hiltz won her third U.S. outdoor title (4:03.15) and produced a season highlight with 3:55.94 at the Diamond League in Brussels. Known for their strong finishing kick, Hiltz is capable of springing a surprise against the established global stars.

Why the Tokyo 1500m Could Be Historic

The women’s 1500 metres has grown into one of the marquee events of global athletics, blending endurance, speed, and strategy. Tokyo 2025 brings together:

The Greatest of All Time – Faith Kipyegon, rewriting the history books.
The Rising Rival – Nelly Chepchirchir, Kenya’s new Diamond League queen.
Ethiopian Power – Welteji, Hailu, and Haylom, pushing national pride.
Global Stars – Jessica Hull of Australia and Nikki Hiltz of the USA, adding international depth.

With world records falling and the depth of talent deeper than ever before, the Tokyo final could produce one of the fastest 1500m races in history.

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About the writer: Denise N. Fyffe is a publisher and author for more than 15 years. She has written more than 70 books and enjoys mentoring, gardening and traveling. She is also a trainer and educator, helping others to achieve their dreams.