After an incredible run in 2019, world marathon record-holder Eliud Kipchoge was on Saturday, November 23, crowned the 2019 World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year.
The 35-year-old beat four other accomplished athletes to clinch the prestigious award presented during the World Athletics gala held in Monaco, a sovereign city-state, country, and microstate on the French Riviera in Western Europe on Saturday night.
He trounced against Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei (World Cross Country and World 10,000 champion), USA's Noah Lyles (World 200m Champion), Norwegian Karsten Warholm (World 400m hurdles champion) and USA's Sam Kendricks (World pole vault champion).
The athletics legend who did not attend the gala accepted the recognition in a telecast interview.
"It was really a special moment for me becoming the first human being to run under two hours. I am happy to inspire a whole generation," stated Kipchoge.
Kipchoge made history on October 12 as the first man to run a full marathon under two hours in the Ineos 1:59 Challenge held in Vienna, Austria clocking a record-breaking 1:59:40.2.
In his only competitive race of the year, Kipchoge won the London Marathon in April in a course record of 2:02:37 marking his fourth consecutive win on the course.
In the Female Athlete of the Year Award, Kenya's Brigid Kosgei lost to 400m hurdler Dalilah Muhammad of the USA who also beat Shelly-Ann Fraser (Jamaica) and Dutch long-distance runner Sifa Hassan.
Kenyans took to social media to congratulate Kipchoge for his latest accolade that was first won by David Rudisha in 2010.
"Congratulations Eliud Kipchoge for being crowned the Male Athlete of the Year at the World Athletics Awards 2019. You’ve continuously kept flying the Kenyan flag high, running clean and pushing the limits of not only yourself but a whole generation. Well done!" tweeted Energy CS Charles Keter.
"Congratulations to World marathon holder Eliud Kipchoge on being crowned World Male Athlete of the Year in Monaco. You're a true hero and champion for the achievements made locally and globally. Hongera," Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko wrote.
