NAIROBI, Kenya, September 23 – Triple Olympics 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon and double champion Beatrice Chebet were on Sunday awarded the Golden Plate award for their consistent excellent performances in athletics.
The two were feted by the Academy of Achievement at a ceremony at the Lincoln Plaza Centre in New York — an event attended by President William Ruto.
“The extraordinary honour is a solid tribute to your hard work, talent and dedication to athletics. No doubt, it will inspire upcoming athletes and help shape our country’s sports,” President Ruto said.
The award is given to outstanding individuals who have shone in their respective spheres of influence including sports, literature, arts, industry, public service, entertainment and business.
The awards are a just reward for the two athletes who have put Kenya on the world map with their achievements at the international level as well as inspiring many young female athletes.
Chebet clocked a world record of 28:54.14 to win the women’s 10,000m at the Prefontaine Classic on May 25, which secured her place at the summer games in Paris.
The 5km world record holder then secured legendary status in Paris when she clocked 30:43.25 to win the women’s 10,000m – the first time a Kenyan has won the race in Olympics history.
Chebet then added the Olympics 5000m title to her medal cabinet when she timed 14:28.56 to cross the finish line first.
Meanwhile, it was the same old, same old for Kipyegon who recovered from her initial injury woes to set a world record of 3:49.04 in the women’s 1500m at the Paris Diamond League in early July.
Her ‘love affair’ with the French capital continued at the summer games when she breezed to a third-ever Olympics title in the women’s 1500m — the first ever female athlete to do so.
Both athletes also dominated the Diamond League circuit where Kipyegon once again made history by win her fifth trophy.
Chebet, meanwhile, was heads and shoulders above other competitors, winning the women’s 5000m.
