The duo will clash once again with Kipyegon, the 5000m World Record holder, being in Sifan’s territory and having already beaten the Dutch in the 1500m at the same event, Saturday’s final promises to be explosive.

“Faith (Kipyegon) is a great talented athlete, Kenya is blessed to have her because she is amazing and I am very proud of her. For me Faith, Obiri (Hellen) and Gidey (Letesenbet) of Ethiopia made me push hard because I have competed with them, they are super good. I am proud of them,” Sifan said.

In the women’s 5000m final, Kipyegon and Sifan will battle it out alongside defending champion Gudaf Tsegay, who has already won the 10,000m gold, Commonwealth Games champion and world silver medalist Beatrice Chebet as well as Ethiopia’s Elgayehu Taye, who won bronze in the 10,000m.

“My 5000m plan is to beat Kenya and win gold and if I do so, I will share it with Kenya,” Sifan jokingly said.

Sifan has already tasted the marathon, winning the 2023 London Marathon on her debut having conquered in the track; winning the Olympics two times, world championships twice, Diamond League once and World Indoor.

For Faith Kipyegon, a win in the 5000m will solidify her status as the Greatest Athlete Of All Time (G.A.O.T) in the women’s middle distance, having won everything on offer including owning a world record.

“The only thing that was missing in my cabinet was the world record and now I have two, so I am grateful. My main race is the 1500m and having already defended my title, I can now try the 5000m. It is going to be tough because we have great athletes in the final who this event is their specialty,”