Brigid Jepchirchir Kosgei (born 20 February 1994) is a Kenyan

long-distance runner Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely Aerobic exercise, aerobic in nature and requires stamina as well as mental strength. Within endurance ru ...

who specialises in the

marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of kilometres ( 26 mi 385 yd), usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There ...

. She won the

2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...

and

2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...

Chicago Marathons, the

and

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

London Marathon The London Marathon (also known as the TCS London Marathon for sponsorship reasons) is an annual marathon held in London, England. Founded by athletes Chris Brasher and John Disley in 1981, it is typically held in April, although it moved to Oct ...

s and the 2021 Tokyo Marathon. Kosgei was the marathon world record holder for women running in a mixed-sex race, with a time of 2:14:04 achieved on 13 October 2019 at the Chicago Marathon. She won the silver medal in the marathon event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Personal life

Brigid Jepchirchir Kosgei grew up in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya, and has six siblings. Her sister Pamela is a steeplechase runner. Aged 17, Kosgei began running, training with her boyfriend and now husband Matthew Kosgei.

Career

Kosgei finished in the top two in eight of the first nine marathons that she ran. She came second at the 2016 Lisbon Marathon behind fellow Kenyan Sarah Chepchirchir, in a personal best time of 2:24:45. Her time was faster than the previous course record. In 2017, Kosgei won the Bogotá Half Marathon, and came third at the Copenhagen Half Marathon. She came second in the 2017 Chicago Marathon in a personal best time of 2:20:22. Her time was the sixth-fastest ever time at the Chicago Marathon. Weeks later, she won the

Honolulu Marathon The Honolulu Marathon (branded JAL Honolulu Marathon for sponsorship reasons) is a marathon (26.2 miles or 42.2km) in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was first held on December 16, 1973, and it typically takes places on the second Sunday in December. The ma ...

, beating the course record by over five minutes. In 2018, Kosgei came second in the

behind Vivian Cheruiyot. After injuring herself during the Bogotá Marathon, Kosgei decided to run the

Great North Run The Great North Run (branded the AJ Bell Great North Run for sponsorship purposes) is the largest half marathon in the world, taking place annually in North East England each September. Participants run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shie ...

, in order to practice ahead of the 2018 Chicago Marathon. She finished the event second, behind Cheruiyot. Kosgei later won the Chicago Marathon, after breaking away from a group of two other Kenyans and three Ethiopians after of the race. She set a personal best time of 2:18:35. During 2018, Kosgei also won a cross country event in

Eldoret Eldoret is a city in the Rift Valley region of Kenya. It serves as the capital of Uasin Gishu County. Located in western Kenya and lying south of the Cherangani Hills, the local elevation varies from about at the Eldoret International Air ...

, Kenya, and the Kalya Half Marathon in Kapenguria, Kenya. Kosgei won the 2019 London Marathon, becoming the youngest woman to win the event. This was the third-best time in London after Paula Radcliffe in 2005 with 2:17:42 and Mary Keitany in 2017 with the world record 2:17:01. At the 2019

, Kosgei won in a course-record time of 1:04.28, 23 seconds faster than the previous half marathon world record set by Joyciline Jepkosgei. She won the 2019 Chicago Marathon on 13 October 2019 in a world record time of 2:14:04, an improvement of her personal best by more than 4 minutes. She beat the previous world record by 81 seconds, and was over six minutes ahead of second place Ababel Yeshaneh. Kosgei wore specially adapted Nike shoes, which have been alleged to have given her a 60–90 second advantage. Later in the year, she won the 15 km Saint Silvester Road Race in a time of 48:54. In February 2020, Kosgei finished second to Yeshaneh at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon. Kosgei's time of 1:04:49 was two seconds better than the previous world record. Kosgei and Yeshaneh's time of 30:18 after of the race was only one second slower than the best time set in a track 10,000m event in 2019. Later in the year, Kosgei won the rescheduled 2020 London Marathon by over three minutes. Kosgei broke away from the pack into the race and stayed ahead for the rest of the race. She finished in a time of 2:18.58. Before its postponement, Kosgei was chosen to lead the Kenyan women's marathon squad for the

2020 Summer Olympics The officially the and officially branded as were an international multi-sport event that was held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some of the preliminary sporting events beginning on 21 July 2021. Tokyo ...

in Tokyo, Japan. The other athletes chosen in the squad were Cheruiyot and

Ruth Chepng'etich Ruth Chepng'etich (often spelled Ruth Chepngetich, born 8 August 1994) is a Kenyan road runner who is the current women's world record holder in the marathon, with a time of 2:09:56 set at the 2024 Chicago Marathon. She is the 2019 world cham ...

. In February 2021, Kosgei was confirmed in the Kenyan marathon team for the rescheduled 2020 Summer Olympics, alongside Cheruiyot, Chepng'etich and Peres Jepchirchir. It was Kosgei's first appearance at the Olympics. She finished second behind Jepchirchir. Later in the year, she came fourth at the 2021 London Marathon. In March 2022, Kosgei won the delayed 2021 Tokyo Marathon in a time of 2:16:20, the third fastest ever time. At the 2024 ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon, Kosgei broke the course record in a time of 2:19:15.

Achievements

All information from

World Athletics World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation and International Association of Athletics Federations and formerly abbreviated as the IAAF, is the international sports governing body, governing body for the sport ...

profile unless otherwise noted.

Marathon competition record

Personal bests

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kosgei, Brigid 1994 births Living people Kenyan female marathon runners Chicago Marathon female winners Athletes from Elgeyo-Marakwet County London Marathon female winners World Athletics record holders Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics Olympic silver medalists for Kenya Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field) Olympic athletes for Kenya Tokyo Marathon female winners