Eliud Kipchoge to receive UN 2018 recognition

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Kipchoge to receive UN 2018 recognition

He is also among four Kenyans nominated for IAAF Athlete of the Year awards.

Eliud Kipchoge, who set a jaw-dropping world marathon record of 2:01.39 at Berlin Marathon last month, is among four Kenyans nominated for Male and Female Athlete of the Year awards.

Kipchoge will receive the UN in Kenya Person of the Year award at United Nations headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi, today.

In a letter signed by Siddharth Chatterjee, the UN Resident Coordinator, Kipchoge will be feted for exhibiting extraordinary accomplishment that involves initiative, integrity and courage. “Your marathon victory in Berlin 2018, is an example of dedication, commitment, sheer perseverance and it demonstrates the heights to which human endurance can be taken to. 

“You have employed your good name and celebrity to meet the challenges surrounding the transmission of HIV/Aids in Kenya and the difficulties 65% of Kenya’s population – the youth –face in their quest to be productive and responsible citizens,” read the letter.

Kipchoge said he was happy for the recognition. “I thank God for the nominations. I now call on Kenyans and our fans to vote for us. We want Kenyans votes,” Kipchoge said yesterday.

He won London Marathon in April and managed the biggest improvement on a men’s marathon world record since 1967.

World 3,000m steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, world 800m champion Emmanuel Korir and sIAAF Diamond League Trophy winner Timothy Cheruiyot have also been nominated for the IAAF awards.

They were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of the IAAF.

Korir set a world leading time of 1:42.05, which is the fastest in 800m since David Rudisha’s set the the world record of 1:40.91 at the Olympic Stadium in East London.

He won the IAAF Diamond League Trophy, the IAAF Continental Cup and African Championships silver as well as emerging as world number six in 400m.

World 1,500m silver medalist Timothy Cheruiyot set world leading time in 1,500m and one mile and posted nine wins in 11 races across the two distances. He is a Diamond League Trophy winner and settled for silver at the Commonwealth Games and Africa Senior Championships.

Chepkoech won world steeplechase record by eight seconds, backed up by the third-quickest time. She won seven out of eight steeplechase finals.