Beatrice Chebet Promoted After Golden Double in Tokyo

World 10,000m and 5,000m champion Beatrice Chebet has been promoted to the position of Sergeant of Police due to her fantastic results at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Eliud Lagat of the Kenya Police Service (KPS) announced it on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, when he took a winning group of athletes on a tour of Vigilance House on behalf of Inspector General Douglas Kanja.

Beatrice Chebet promoted to Sergeant after double gold in Tokyo!

Chebet’s Golden Double

Chebet, who has now established himself as one of the most reliable long-distance performers in Kenya, won two gold medals in Tokyo, as he was top in the 10,000m race as well as the 5,000m race. Her victories saw Kenya end the championships with a staggering 11 medals: 7 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze.

DIG Lagat’s performance was a win for Kenya and the National Police Service (NPS), which has produced some of the country’s best athletes.

Corporal Beatrice Chebet is also advised to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant of Police in appreciation of her outstanding performance at the rank of Corporal.

Team Kenya Welcomed Home

The Kenyan contingent arrived back in Nairobi on Tuesday to a hero’s reception. The delegation included athletes, coaches, trainers, medical staff, and a police cheering squad.

• The technical team was led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Catherine Kagwiria.

• The cheering squad was under Corporal Michael Maina from the General Service Unit.

Also present were celebrated champions such as:

• Faith Kipyegon – 2025 Tokyo & World 1,500m champion and APS Bomet FC board member.

• Abel Kirui – former world marathon champion (SSP).

• Ambassador Dr. Rose Tata – veteran athletics star.

Senior police officers, including Patrick Tito (Principal Deputy to the DIG-KPS), Adamson Bungei (Director of Operations, KPS), William Yiampoy (Director of Reforms, KPS and former athlete), Ramadhan Omar (Director of Sports and Chaplaincy APS), Grace Kakai (Deputy Director of Logistics KPS), and Isaac Sang (Director of Sports KPS), were also in attendance.

DIG Lagat’s Message

DIG Lagat praised the athletes for flying the Kenyan flag high and emphasized the need for discipline and adherence to anti-doping regulations. He encouraged the current and former stars to mentor the upcoming athletes to maintain the image of Kenya on the international front.

Double world champion Beatrice Chebet with DIG Lagat

Chebet’s Rise in the Police Service

Chebet’s latest promotion marks another milestone in her dual career as both an athlete and a police officer.

• She first rose to global fame at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she became the first Kenyan woman to win Olympic gold in the 10,000m (30:43.25). She later secured gold in the 5,000m (14:28.56).

• For these historic achievements, she was promoted to the rank of Corporal by then Acting Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli.

Now, just a year later, her Tokyo golden double has elevated her once again—this time to Sergeant of Police.

A Star for Kenya and the NPS

The relationship between the National Police Service and athletics is symbiotic, as Beatrice Chebet indicates. The NPS has been offering Kenyan athletes a chance to serve and play at the same time and win national and international fame over the course of decades.

With her and other champions such as Faith Kipyegon, Kenya is still guaranteed of her presence on the prevailing track, as well as strengthening the police service as a breeding ground for nurturing world-class athletes.

Read more: What to Do If You Are Unfairly Disqualified from Police Recruitment in Kenya