Brigid Kosgei

Brigid Jepchirchir Kosgei is a Kenyan long-distance runner who rose from rural beginnings in Elgeyo-Marakwet County to become one of the fastest female marathoners in history. Born on February 20, 1994, in the village of Sinon near Kapsowar, she began running at age 17 and turned professional in 2015, winning her debut marathon at the Porto Marathon in 2:47:59.\n\nKosgei announced herself on the world stage with back-to-back Chicago Marathon victories in 2018 and 2019. Her 2019 Chicago performance of 2:14:04 shattered Paula Radcliffe's long-standing world record by 81 seconds and stood as the women's marathon world record until 2023. She also won the London Marathon in 2019 and 2020, and the Tokyo Marathon in 2021 and 2026. At the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she earned the silver medal in the marathon with a time of 2:27:36.\n\nTraining at altitude in Kapsait, near Eldoret in Kenya's Rift Valley, under coach Erick Kimaiyo, Kosgei has remained competitive for over a decade. Her 2026 Tokyo Marathon victory in 2:14:29 confirmed her continued status among the sport's elite. She holds personal bests of 1:04:49 for the half marathon and 30:58 for 10 kilometers on the road.