Having competed at all World Championships between 2009-17, Genzebe placed in the finals of all events in which she took part. She won five World Indoor Championships titles, twice in the 1500 m and three times in the 3000 m. Genzebe was highly successful as a junior athlete. In 2008, aged 17, she won her first under-20 World Cross Country Championships title and took silver in the 5000 m at the World U20 Championships. The next year, she added her second Cross Country U20 title, and in 2010, the World U20 5000 m gold medal. She was named Laureus Sportswoman of the Year for 2014 and IAAF World Athlete of the Year in 2015.