Marathon Record Holder Eliud Kipchoge was on Sunday evening awarded the best male athlete of Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Awards Gala at the sidelines of the Annual General Assembly underway in Crete, Greece.

The 36-year-old was awarded for his marathon gold medal at the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Sapporo.

Kipchoge defended his marathon gold medal having won the same in Rio 2016 Olympics.

Reacting to his award on social media, Kipchoge tweeted that he was honoured to win the ANOC Award for the Best Male Athlete.

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"It is an honour to win the ANOC Award for the Best Male Athlete at the Tokyo Olympics. With so many beautiful performances by so many athletes, I am proud to be the recipient of this award.  Thank you all for your great support!" he wrote.

Eliud Kipchoge during ANOC Awards Gala at the sidelines of the Annual General Assembly underway in Crete, Greece. [photo courtesy]

President Uhuru Kenyatta has also congratulated Kipchoge for winning the Best Male Athlete award.

“The prestigious ANOC Award is a global recognition of Kenya’s prominence as a sporting nation, and advised upcoming athletes to emulate Eliud's determination, humility, hard work and patriotism as they build their careers,” said State House Kenya in a tweet.

Eliud was awarded by the president of Association of National Olympics Committee of Africa, Mr. Mustapha Berraf at the Open Air Theatre of the Creta Maris Beach Hotel.

The best female athlete of Tokyo 2020 was presented to Canada’s Margaret MacNeil, one of the swimming stars of the Games.

MacNeil won three medals at the Games, including a memorable victory in the women’s 100 metres butterfly event where she came from seventh place at the halfway mark to eventually clinch gold.

Other Star athletes from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were also honoured in Crete;

Outstanding Athlete Performance – Cuban Mijain Lopez

Best Male Team at Tokyo 2020 – Japan National Baseball Team

Best Feale Team at Tokyo 2020 – New Zealand Rugby Team

Best Male Multiple Athlete Event of Tokyo 2020 – Italy Cycling Track Pursuit Team

Best Female Multiple Athlete Event of Tokyo 2020 – Estonia Fencing Epee Team

The awards were organized by ANOC to celebrate the achievements of athletes at the Tokyo Games.