Peres Jepchirchir’s Marathon Triumph in Tokyo Comes With Millions in Rewards

Peres Jepchirchir has once again stamped her authority in women’s marathon running, securing gold at the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo. Her victory was not only a personal comeback but also a financially rewarding performance.

Crossing the line in a season’s best of 2:24:43, Jepchirchir edged Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, who clocked 2:24:45, while Uruguay’s Julia Paternain finished third in 2:27:23. The Kenyan star, who has battled injuries since 2022, showed resilience and determination, proving that she is firmly back at the top of her game.

This win was particularly significant as it came in Jepchirchir’s first competitive race of the year. In 2024, she started her season at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, went on to claim victory at the London Marathon, and later placed 14th at the Paris Olympic Games. The Tokyo performance now adds a world title to her illustrious career and cements her status as one of the sport’s finest.

How Much Did Peres Jepchirchir Earn From the Victory?

The World Athletics Championships prize pool this year stands at roughly US$8.5 million, distributed among individual competitors and relay teams. Gold medalists such as Jepchirchir receive US$70,000, while silver and bronze medalists earn US$35,000 and US$22,000, respectively. Runners finishing fourth to eighth also secure payouts, ranging from US$16,000 down to US$5,000.

Relay events carry even larger team prizes, with US$80,000 for first place, US$40,000 for second, and US$20,000 for third. Teams ranked fourth through eighth take home amounts between US$16,000 and US$4,000. In addition, any athlete who manages to break a world record during the championships is rewarded with a US$100,000 bonus.

For Jepchirchir, her Tokyo gold medal means a guaranteed US$70,000 (approximately KSh 9.5 million). Beyond the international prize purse, the Kenyan government also rewards its top performers: gold medalists receive KSh 3 million, while those winning silver and bronze are awarded KSh 2 million and KSh 1 million, respectively.

With her latest triumph, Jepchirchir not only reaffirmed her dominance on the global stage but also secured millions in earnings, a fitting prize for her persistence and comeback journey.