Beatrice Chebet will sit out the 2026 season after confirming she is expecting her first child, bringing a pause to one of the most successful stretches in women’s distance running in recent years.
The 25-year-old Kenyan, who holds Olympic and world titles in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, said the decision followed two demanding seasons at the top of the sport.
“I really pushed myself to the limit the last two years,” Chebet said. “This year, I thought it was wise to take time off and recover, and while at it, become a mother.”
Chebet’s announcement comes at the end of a period in which she very clearly established herself as the dominant distance runner of this generation. She won Olympic gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2024 Paris Games, then repeated the double at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Along the way, she set world records in both events for good measure.
In 2025, she opened her Diamond League season with a 5,000m win in Xiamen, ran an African record 8:11.56 over 3,000m in Rabat, and became the first woman to break 14 minutes for 5,000m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene. She later capped the season by winning both distance events in Tokyo.
Despite that form, Chebet had already begun to step back from competition. She was named a reserve for Kenya’s team at the 2026 World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee but withdrew, ending a potential bid for a third consecutive world title. Days later, she confirmed the reason in an Instagram post announcing her pregnancy.
Chebet is expecting her first child with her husband and coach, Peter Bii. Based on her timeline, she is expected to return to competition in 2027.
Her decision follows a path taken by several Kenyan greats, including Faith Kipyegon, Vivian Cheruiyot, Mary Keitany, Edna Kiplagat and Hellen Obiri, all of whom stepped away to start families before returning to win major global titles.
Chebet will remain out of competition in 2026, but don’t worry, Los Angeles 2028 Olympics are still well within reach.
