Sally Kipyego married Kevin Chelimo in 2008. In 2016, Kipygo discovered she was four weeks pregnant after finishing second at the New York City Marathon. She gave birth to their daughter, Emma, in July 2017. Kipyego became a U.S. citizen in 2017 but wasn’t cleared to compete for the U.S. until August 2019. In 2018, she was supposed to run the 2018 New York City Marathon, but contracted malaria and pneumonia. Kipyego qualified for her second Olympic team (first as an American) with her third place finish in Atlanta. Kipyego made her first World Championships team in 2011, representing Kenya in the 10,000m and earning a silver medal. Then at the 2012 Olympics, Kipyego also earned silver in the 10,000m and finished fourth in the 5,000m. Kipyego attended Texas Tech, where she was a nine-time NCAA All-American and nine-time NCAA champion, tied for the most in NCAA history. Kipyego was the first Kenyan to capture an NCAA cross country individual championship and the first female in Division I history to capture three consecutive NCAA cross country titles. Kipyego’s favorite quote is: “I already have everything inside me to succeed.” Her go-to breakfast is a Kenyan version of pancakes (pancake batter mixed with eggs and a pinch of salt and sugar) with Kenyan tea. Her Favorite movie is The Iron Lady and her post-race indulgence is ice cream, every time.
Olympic Games
2012 London Olympics - 10,000m (silver), 5,000m (4th)*
World Athletics Championships
2015 IAAF World Championships - 10,000m, 5th*
2011 IAAF World Championships - 10,000m, silver*
2001 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, 8th*
Other Career Highlights
2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon, bronze
2019 Berlin Marathon, 7th
2017 New York Marathon, silver*
2014 New York Half MArathon, gold*
2009 NCAA Indoor Championships - 1 mile (silver), 5,000m (gold)
2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships - 1,500m (silver), 5,000m (gold)
2008 NCAA Indoor Championships - 5,000m (gold)
2007 NCAA Indoor Championships - 3,000m (gold), 5,000m (gold)
2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships - 5,000m (silver), 10,000m (gold)
* Representing Kenya