World Athletics Championships 2025: Kenya’s Gold Medal Prospects in Tokyo

The countdown has begun for the 2025 World Athletics Championships, set to take place in Tokyo from September 13–21. Athletes from every corner of the globe will gather in Japan for one of the most prestigious competitions in track and field.

Kenya, a dominant force in distance running, will field a squad of 61 athletes. After collecting 10 medals at the 2023 edition in Budapest, hopes are high that this year’s numbers could be even better. While the team is brimming with talent, only a select few appear primed to capture world titles.

Here’s a look at Kenya’s top gold medal contenders heading to Tokyo.

Faith Kipyegon

Faith Kipyegon continues to reign supreme in the 1,500m. The three-time world champion and current world record holder has been the standard-bearer over the distance for years. Given her consistency and dominance, she enters Tokyo as the favorite to secure a fourth global crown, which would also be her third in succession.

Kipyegon is not stopping there, she will also take part in the 5,000m, an event she won in 2023. The challenge this time is tougher, with her training partner and Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet as well as Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay in the mix. Even so, Kipyegon’s ability to deliver under pressure makes her one of Kenya’s most reliable medal hopes.

Beatrice Chebet

Beatrice Chebet heads to Tokyo as one of the most formidable names in distance running. Fresh from her Olympic triumphs in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, the 24-year-old has maintained her momentum into 2025. She is unbeaten in the 5,000m this season, even lowering the world record, while still holding strong in the 10,000m.

Chebet has steadily climbed the podium at the World Championship, where she won silver in 2022, bronze in 2023, and now looks ready to finally capture gold. With her growing confidence, she could leave Tokyo as a double world champion.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi

On the men’s side, Emmanuel Wanyonyi carries Kenya’s biggest hopes. The reigning Olympic champion over 800m has been a model of consistency since bursting onto the scene. His blend of tactical sharpness and raw pace has made him a nightmare for rivals.

Still only 21, Wanyonyi has already clocked the second-fastest time ever in the event, leaving David Rudisha’s world record looking vulnerable. Known for raising his level when it matters most, Wanyonyi could well deliver Kenya’s first men’s gold of the championships.

Faith Cherotich

Faith Cherotich has quickly emerged as a serious challenger in the 3,000m steeplechase. At 21, she already has two major medals to her name: a bronze from the 2023 World Championships and the Paris Olympics. Her 2025 form, however, shows a runner ready for the next step.

She has won three of four Diamond League races this season and claimed the overall title. What stands out most are her victories against Winfred Yavi, the reigning world and Olympic champion. If she executes her strategy well, Cherotich could turn her consistent podium finishes into gold in Tokyo.

Phanuel Koech

Could 18-year-old Phanuel Koech be Kenya’s breakout star in Tokyo? The rising 1,500m talent has already made headlines by beating reigning champion Josh Kerr in London earlier this year. With Norwegian rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen sidelined for much of the season due to injury, the field looks wide open.

Koech has been remarkably consistent, recording three wins, two runner-up finishes, and a third place in his last six races on the international circuit. With that kind of form, he could spring a surprise and deliver gold for Kenya in Japan.

Nelly Chepchirchir

Nelly Chepchirchir is another athlete quietly making a name for herself. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable 2025 season, winning seven of her eight outings, including four Diamond League victories and the series final. Most of those successes have come in the 1,500m, where she has become a consistent presence at the top.

Her main obstacle, of course, is competing in the same event as Faith Kipyegon, the undisputed champion of the discipline. But if Kipyegon falters on the big stage, Chepchirchir has shown she is more than capable of stepping in and seizing the opportunity.