For the third consecutive year, Kenyan middle-distance runner Faith Kipyegon has been nominated for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award, the most prestigious individual honor in global sports. The nominations were announced on Tuesday in Madrid, placing the Olympic champion among an elite field of athletes who have defined their disciplines over the past year.
Kipyegon’s nomination follows a 2025 season characterized by sustained excellence and historic performances. She secured a fourth World Championship gold medal in the 1500 meters at the Tokyo World Championships, adding to her unprecedented Olympic triple crown. On July 5, she lowered her own 1500m world record to 3:48.68 in Eugene. She also set a new African record of 8:07.04 in the 3000m, the second-fastest time ever recorded, and won a silver medal in the 5000m at the same World Championships.
She now faces competition from athletes who have also achieved remarkable milestones. Footballer Aitana Bonmatí of Barcelona and Spain, the 2024 Laureus winner, earned her third consecutive Ballon d’Or Féminin after a dominant season. U.S. hurdler and sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone shattered the World Championship 400m record and anchored a gold-medal 4x400m relay team. Swimmer Katie Ledecky claimed her seventh consecutive world title in the 800m freestyle, bringing her total World Aquatics Championships medal count to 30. Tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, defended her US Open title and reached three of four Grand Slam finals. Sprinter Jefferson-Wooden completed a rare “Triple Crown” at the World Championships by winning the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay.
The winner will be selected by the Laureus World Sports Academy and announced at a gala ceremony in Madrid on April 20, 2026. A victory for Kipyegon would make her only the second Kenyan to receive the award, following long-distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot in 2012. The nomination underscores a career built on consistent, record-breaking performance at the sport’s highest levels.
