Sylvia Jebiwot Kibet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sylvia Jebiwot Kibet

Kibet (right) celebrating with Mercy Cherono at the 2011 World Championships
Medal record
Representing  Kenya
Women's athletics
Olympic Games
Bronze	2008 Beijing	5000 m
World Championships
Silver	2009 Berlin	5000 m
Silver	2011 Daegu	5000 m
All-Africa Games
Bronze	2007 Algiers	5000 m
Commonwealth Games
Silver	2010 Delhi	5000 m

Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet (born March 28, 1984) is a talented long-distance runner from Kenya. She is famous for winning two silver medals in the 5000 metres race at the World Championships in Athletics in 2009 and 2011. Sylvia has also earned other medals in big competitions like the 2006 African Championships in Athletics, the 2007 All-Africa Games, and the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

She has often come very close to winning more medals. For example, she finished fourth at the 2007 World Championships, the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and twice in the 3000 metres at the IAAF World Indoor Championships.

Sylvia's Running Journey

Sylvia Kibet grew up in Kapchorwa, a place in Nandi District, Kenya. Running talent runs in her family! Her older sister, Hilda Kibet, is also a runner who now competes for the Netherlands. Their cousin, Lornah Kiplagat, is also a well-known runner.

Starting Her Career

Sylvia first showed her amazing talent by winning a silver medal in the 1500 metres at the 1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics. After this, she took a break from running. She got married and had a daughter.

In 2004, Sylvia returned to athletics. She moved to Iten, a small town known for training runners. There, she met an Italian coach named Renato Canova and began training with him. By 2005, she was performing much better, especially in her favorite race, the 5000 metres.

Major Achievements and Medals

Sylvia continued to improve, earning a bronze medal in the 5000 metres at the 2006 African Championships in Athletics. In 2007, she won another bronze medal at the Athletics at the 2007 All-Africa Games. She also finished fourth at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics.

In 2008, Sylvia set a new Kenyan indoor record for the 1500 metres. She also finished fourth at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships, setting another Kenyan indoor record in the 3000 metres. Her first big outdoor medal came at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, where she won a silver medal in the 5000 metres. She finished just behind her fellow Kenyan runner, Vivian Cheruiyot.

More Successes and Close Calls

In 2010, Sylvia nearly won a medal in the 3000 metres at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships, finishing fourth. She also won a silver medal in the 5000 metres at the Athletics at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, again finishing second to Vivian Cheruiyot.

In 2011, Sylvia continued her strong performance. She earned another silver medal in the 5000 metres at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics. She beat Meseret Defar in a close sprint to the finish line!

In 2012, Sylvia once again finished fourth in the 3000 metres at the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships. Although she didn't make the Kenyan team for the 2012 London Olympics, she still had a great year. She finished in the top three at several big races on the 2012 Diamond League Circuit. She also won her first 10-mile race, the Dam tot Damloop, and ended her year with a win at the BOClassic.

Sylvia's Top Running Times

Here are some of Sylvia Kibet's best times in different running events:

• 1500 metres: 4 minutes, 8.57 seconds (outdoor) and 4 minutes, 5.33 seconds (indoor)
• 3000 metres: 8 minutes, 40.09 seconds (outdoor) and 8 minutes, 41.24 seconds (indoor)
• 5000 metres: 14 minutes, 31.91 seconds
• 10,000 metres: 30 minutes, 47.20 seconds
• Half marathon: 1 hour, 9 minutes, 51 seconds

Major Competition Results

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  Kenya
1999	World Youth Championships	Bydgoszcz, Poland	2nd	1500 m	4:24.43
2006	African Championships	Bambous, Mauritius	3rd	5000 m	15:57.14
	World Athletics Final	Stuttgart, Germany	5th	3000 m
2007	All-Africa Games	Algiers, Algeria	3rd	5000 m	15:06.39
	World Championships	Osaka, Japan	4th	5000 m	14:59.26
	World Athletics Final	Stuttgart, Germany	5th	3000 m
			2nd	5000 m
2008	World Indoor Championships	Valencia, Spain	4th	3000 m	8:41.82
	Olympic Games	Beijing, China	3rd	5000 m	15:44.96
	World Athletics Final	Stuttgart, Germany	6th	3000 m
			6th	5000 m
2009	World Championships	Berlin, Germany	2nd	5000m	14:58.33
	World Athletics Final	Thessaloniki, Greece	4th	5000 m
2010	World Indoor Championships	Doha, Qatar	4th	3000 m	8:52.16
	Commonwealth Games	New Delhi, India	2nd	5000 m	15:55.61
2011	World Championships	Daegu, South Korea	2nd	5000 m	14:56.21
2012	World Indoor Championships	Istanbul, Turkey	4th	3000 m	8:40.50

See also

In Spanish: Sylvia Kibet para niños