World's greatest marathoner Eliud Kipchoge is overjoyed after winning this year’s Princess of Asturias award for sports.
Kipchoge who has won 16 titles out of the 18 marathons was presented the award during a ceremony held in Spain on Friday.
On his X account, the champion considered this a great honour.
“Receiving the Princess of Asturias Award tonight fulfils me with honour, as it is an acknowledgement for something that I have believed in thoroughly throughout my career,” he wrote.
“To some, running is simply an act of physical movement. But ever since I started running as a young boy in Kapsabet, Kenya, I knew running meant something much greater than that. Running is not just physical movement. Running is a vehicle that has the power to unite us."
The awards are a series of annual prizes awarded in Spain by the Princess of Asturias Foundation (previously the Prince of Asturias Foundation).
It is given to individuals, entities or organizations worldwide who make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities, and public affairs.
The foundation's panel of 15 judges described Kipchoge as a legend in the world of athletics whose records are unmatched.
"The Jury has valued the figure of the athlete as a role model in world athletics and as the best marathon runner of all time. Two-time Olympic champion and holder of the world record for the race, Kipchoge is the only man in history to have managed to run the 42.195 kilometres in under two hours. However, this feat has not been officially recognized," read part of the statement issued by the judges.
The awards are presented every October in a solemn ceremony at Teatro Campoamor in Oviedo, the capital of the Principality of Asturias, and are presented by the Princess of Asturias.
Each recipient present at the ceremony receives a diploma, a sculpture expressly created for the awards by Spanish sculptor Joan Miró and a pin with the emblem of the Foundation.
There is also a monetary prize of €50,000 (Sh7.9 million) for each category; this amount is shared if the category has more than one recipient.
They were declared of "exceptional contribution to the cultural heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO in 2004