Kenyan runner Beatrice Chebet, who won gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is taking a maternity break in 2026, her agent announced Monday.
The 25-year-old is also the world record holder in both events and capped her Olympic achievement by winning gold at both distances at the world championships in Tokyo in September.
“After a lot of rumours, we can finally share the news: in 2026, Beatrice Chebet will run the most important race of her life - becoming a mother,” her agent announced on social media.
Chebet was due to defend her title at the World Cross Country Championships in Florida on Saturday but announced her withdrawal a few days ago.
She didn’t give an explanation but said she was looking forward to the “next chapter of (her) life.”
She will not miss any major championships in 2026. The next world championships take place in in Beijing in 2027 before the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Here is a brief look at six trailblazing athletes who took maternity breaks and returned to the top of their game.
1. Allyson Felix (Track & Field)
The Break: Felix took a break in 2018 and gave birth to her daughter, Camryn, via an emergency C-section at 32 weeks.
2. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Sprinting)
The Break: The Jamaican “Mommy Rocket” sat out the 2017 World Championships to give birth to her son, Zyon.
3. Serena Williams (Tennis)
The Break: Serena famously won the 2017 Australian Open while eight weeks pregnant. She took the rest of the year off to give birth to her daughter, Olympia, facing life-threatening complications (pulmonary embolism) during delivery.
4. Alex Morgan (Soccer)
The Break: The USWNT star took a break in late 2019 and gave birth to her daughter, Charlie, in May 2020.
5. Faith Kipyegon (Middle-Distance Running)
The Break: The Kenyan 1500m specialist took a break after winning gold at the 2017 World Championships, giving birth to her daughter in 2018.
