The 29-year-old national record holder ran the second-fastest 1500m time ever in Monaco last summer (3:50.37). Arguably the greatest female 1500m runner of all-time, she now holds seven of the 20 fastest times in history and is the athlete with the most sub-four minute performances.
Last year’s edition of the Doha Meeting presented spectators with a javelin masterclass as two national records were broken, including the fifth-longest throw in history by Grenada’s world champion Anderson Peters. On this occasion, Kipyegon will want to set the track alight.
Since giving birth in 2018, the Patrick Sang-coached athlete, who trains alongside marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, has gone from strength to strength. She returned to action in 2019 and finished second at the World Athletics Championships in Doha. She retained her Olympic title in Tokyo, 2021, and in July 2022 she regained the global title she had first won in London 2017 with a commanding victory in Eugene.
“I'm delighted to come back again to the Doha Diamond League,” said the 2022 Wanda Diamond League champion. “After a winter of focusing on endurance and strength, it's a great chance for me to start real racing in Doha and to see where I am at in my build up towards the World Champs later on in the season.”
Mohammed Al Fadala, Qatar Athletics Federation president, said: “As an ambitious nation, it is important for us to build on the positive momentum generated as a result of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. We therefore remain committed to delivering world class sporting events such as the Doha Meeting.
“In spite of challenging conditions, we had the privilege of witnessing one of the greatest javelin competitions of all time at last year’s event. We will again welcome the best athletes in the world to the Qatar Sports Club in 2023 and I look forward to some great performances as we continue to enhance our global profile and reputation as fantastic hosts.”
The 2023 Wanda Diamond League comprises 15 meetings in total, starting with Doha at the Qatar Sports Club on 5 May and concluding with a single final across two days in Eugene (16-17 September). Each of the 14 series meetings will be broadcast globally in a live two-hour programme.
