Kenyan track and field icon Faith Kipyegon has dominated the 1500m event for nearly a decade. At Paris 2024, she joined the exclusive club of champions who have won gold in a particular event in three consecutive Olympic Games. Beyond the grandest stage, she has claimed 1500m gold at nearly every major international event, making her a living legend.

In a grand gesture to honor their heroine, the city of Eldoret, Kenya, decided to erect a statue of Kipyegon. But what was meant to be a celebration quickly turned into an outrage. The statue, not only failing to resemble the four-time World Champion, didn’t even capture the form or physique of the middle-distance runner. Netizens balked at the poorly made sculpture, dubbing it worse than Cristiano Ronaldo’s infamous botched statue from 2017.

Ronaldo’s hometown of Funchal, Portugal, faced similar backlash when they unveiled their tribute to the 2016 UEFA Euro Cup winner. Despite not being as ambitious as the Kenyans’ attempt, the bronze recreation of Ronaldo was met with ridicule and became a meme sensation due to its disproportionate features. The track and field community responded with equal outrage to Kipyegon’s statue, expressing their disappointment and disapproval.

Despite the statue debacle, the Kenyan government continued to celebrate their medal winners. President William Ruto announced a three million shilling ($800) award for each gold medalist. Yet, the statue’s poor craftsmanship overshadowed this grand gesture, turning what should have been a moment of pride into one of embarrassment

Reflecting on the situation, it becomes clear that while statues can be botched, Faith Kipyegon’s legacy remains untarnished.While the world may chuckle at the failed tribute, her legacy as a dominant force in track and field shines brighter than ever.

The Fans can’t believe it

“That can’t be real??” commented one X-user in complete disbelief. Another fan echoed a similar sentiment. The user was unable to comprehend how an artist moved forward with their creation when the statue resembled nothing of the Olympic champion. “Can’t be real… This looks like some kid’s weekend project,” the individual commented on the amateurish creation.

Meanwhile, one fan posted the Cristiano Ronaldo half-bust. The soccer star’s statue also seemed disproportionate, with a slightly less exaggerated neck, but an unusually crooked smile. “OK. If this is real, this is worse than the Cristiano Ronaldo statue from 2017. Faith Kipyegon deserves better!” demanded the individual.

These fans had a hard time believing that it was real because the proportions didn’t even look human. The forearm looked unusually long, with curved elbow and knee joints. Even his neck seemed inhumanly long, leading fans to demand the artist’s arrest. “Eldoret City is set to honor multiple Olympic Champion Faith Kipyegon with a statue, the sculptor should be arrested immediately,” commented the netizen.

Others didn’t just question the sculptor but also those who approved the creation for display. “Exactly. Whoever thought that statue is good needs a mental check. It is ugly. D*mn ugly. And disrespectful to Faith Kipyegon but then that is Kenya for you.” commented a fan. Despite being life-sized, the sculpture resembled a generic superficially detailed clay figurine.

Unfortunately, we don’t know if doing so was a deliberate stylistic choice. Yet, even if that was the case, it didn’t impress the track and field community. So tell us what you thought of Kipyegon’s statue. Did you see the similarity with Cristiano Ronaldo’s disastrous recreation in bronze?