Kipyegon and Kipchoge are SOYA Athletes of the Year

Eliud Kipchoge and Faith Kipyegon have been named Sportsman of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year respectively at the Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) Gala held in Nairobi on Friday night.

The two, who share an astonishing array of titles between them, were recognized for yet another year of athletic excellence in which they delivered world record-breaking performances in 2022.

Two-time Olympic champion Kipchoge improved his marathon world record to 2:01:09 when he prevailed in Berlin on September 25 and also won the Tokyo Marathon.

That edged him over the 100m sprint sensation Ferdinand Omanyala who won the crown last year and secured his second SOYA title following his inaugural triumph in 2019.

Kipyegon bagged her second world title last year in July, prevailing in 3 minutes, 52.96 seconds in Eugene, Oregon.

That combined with her two Olympic golds made her the first woman to win four global 1500m titles.

Her feting on Friday marked her second straight success of the kind after she was honoured for the first last year.

SOYA Awards Summary

Most Promising Boy of the Year Award – Andrew Wahome (Golf)

Coach of the Year Award – Japhet Munala (Volleyball)

Sports Team of the Year-women – KCB Volleyball Club

Sports Team of the Year-men – Kabras Sugar Rugby Team

Sportswoman Living with Disability Award – Hellen Wawira (Powerlifting)

Sportsman Living with Disability Award – Simon Kibai (Deaflympian)

Sportsman of the Year Award – Eliud Kipchoge

Sportswoman of the Year Award – Faith Kipyegon