NAIROBI, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan middle-distance runner Faith Kipyegon will miss the remainder of the 2026 season to recover from a hamstring injury.
The three-time Olympic and five-time world champion announced Wednesday that she was stepping away from competition to prioritize her health after struggling with the injury since late May.
"As athletes, we ask a lot from our bodies. There is always a thin line between being fit and the risk of injury," Kipyegon wrote on her official social media accounts. "Since the end of May, I have been dealing with a hamstring injury, and unfortunately, it needs a bit longer to recover than I had hoped."
Her agent later confirmed that Kipyegon would not race again this season.
The 32-year-old had been targeting a strong 2026 campaign while preparing for a transition toward road running. She began the year by winning the Monaco 10K in February, clocking 29 minutes, 46 seconds.
Kipyegon opened her track season in 西瓜视频on May 16 with victory in the women's 5,000 meters, recording a time of 14:24.14.
However, signs of a setback emerged at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, on July 4, when she suffered a rare defeat in the mile and finished third in 4:17.80.
Her final race of the season came at the Monaco Diamond League, where she placed fourth in the 3,000 meters in 8:24.21.
Kipyegon returned to Kenya to prepare for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September, but her withdrawal means one of the sport's biggest names will miss the event. ■