Kipyegon Bett
- Born
- Feb 1, 1998 (28 years old)
- Birthplace
- Kenya, Kenya
- Events
- 800 m · 1000 Metres
Kipyegon Bett was a Kenyan middle-distance runner born on February 1, 1998, in Kenya. He specialized in the 800 metres and achieved notable success at both junior and senior international level before his career was cut short.
Bett won the 800 metres at the 2016 World U20 Championships and placed second at the 2015 World Youth Championships. In 2017, he won the Shanghai Diamond League 800m in 1:44.70 and won bronze at the 2017 World Championships in London. He tested positive for EPO in 2018 and received a four-year ban. He was the brother of Purity Kirui, a two-time Commonwealth Games 3000m steeplechase medallist.
Bett died from renal and hepatic failure on October 6, 2024, at age 26, while receiving treatment at a hospital in Bomet County after being ill for over a month. Despite his shortened career, his World Championships bronze and World U20 title marked him as one of Kenya's promising young talents.
As of Oct 28, 2026: 800 m 1:43.76 (#141 all-time), 1000 Metres 2:16.98, 2022 season best 56.76 (Mar 4, 2022, Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi (KEN)) · World Championships: 1 bronze · 28 years old
Personal bests
WA points calculator →Medals
| Competitions | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships | – | – | 1 | 1 |
Progression
| Season | Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 400mH | 56.76 | – | Mar 4, 2022 | Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi (KEN) |
| 2018 | 800m | 1:46.27 | – | Jun 8, 2018 | Janusz Kusociński Memorial, Stadion Śląski, Chorzów |
| 2018 | 1000m | 2:16.98 | – | Jun 10, 2018 | Stockholm BAUHAUS-galan, Olympiastadion, Stockholm - Diamond Discipline |
| 2017 | 800m | 1:44.04 | – | Jun 24, 2017 | Nairobi (KEN) |
| 2017 | 4x800Metre | 7:13.70 | – | Apr 23, 2017 | IAAF World Relays, T. Robinson Stadium, Nassau |
| 2016 | 400m | 49.19 | – | Apr 2, 2016 | Kisii (KEN) |
| 2016 | 800m | 1:43.76 | – | Sep 3, 2016 | Olympiastadion, Berlin (GER) |
| 2015 | 800m | 1:44.55 | – | Jun 17, 2015 | Nairobi (KEN) |