Kipyegon becomes the first athlete ever to win three back-to-back 1500m gold medals and sets new Olympic record time.Kenya's Faith Kipyegon made history after becoming the first woman to win three consecutive Olympic 1,500-metre gold medals with a superb display of middle-distance running.

The 30-year-old 2016 and 2020 champion produced a tactical masterpiece at the Stade de France on Saturday to take gold in a new Olympic record of 3min 51.29sec.

Australia's Jessica Hull took silver in 3:52.56 while the UK's Georgia Bell claimed bronze in 3:52.61.

Bronze medallist Georgia Bell, gold medallist Faith Kipyegon and silver medallist Jessica Hull celebrate after competing in the women's 1500m final [Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP]

It was another remarkable performance by Kipyegon, the reigning world champion who can now arguably lay claim to being the greatest women's middle-distance runner in history.

Kipyegon had bided her time early in the race, allowing Gudaf Tsegay to set the pace before moving up onto the Ethiopian's shoulder just after the first lap.

Tsegay continued to lead at the bell but faded quickly and dropped back as Kipyegon accelerated into first place.

With 200 metres to go, Kipyegon kicked for home and though Hull and Bell pursued they never looked liked finding the speed necessary to catch the Kenyan as she scampered across the line to clinch her unprecedented Olympic 1,500-metre treble.

The Kenyan also holds three gold medals for the same distance at the World Athletics championships, the latest comi ...