Two-time Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet is the LG/SJAK Sports Personality of the Month (SPOM) for August.
It’s her fifth award.
Chebet, the world 5,000m champion had a splendid August, winning the 5000m and 10,000m distance double on her Olympic debut at Paris 2024.
The feat saw the two-time World Cross Country champion become the first Kenyan to win the double at the same Olympic event.
Chebet, 24, won the 10,000m race in 30:43.25 at the Stade de France, four days after bagging the 5,000m gold in 14:28.56. She is the second Kenyan to win the title after Vivian Cheruiyot (Rio 2016).
Chebet could not have had a better season.
“The 2024 season has been good for me,” she observed. “It was an amazing time after the World Cross Country, Diamond League and two (Olympic) gold medals in 5,000m and 10,000m on debut.”
LG’s Managing Director for East Africa, Dongwon Lee, said the recognition will motivate Chebet to continue breaking records, while encouraging other sportsmen and women to emulate her consistency.
“Chebet’s performance at the Olympics was nothing short of outstanding and we are sure that she will continue to impress globally,” he said.
It was a tough call for the SPOM panellists to decide between Chebet and three-time Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon, who sealed her hat-trick of titles in an Olympic record of 03:51.29.
The other nominees for the award included Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who won Kenya’s fifth consecutive 800m Olympic title, KCB Rugby halfback Emmanuel Opondo, who played an active role as the bankers won their third consecutive Kabereri Sevens title.
He was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament after scoring a try and a conversion, while passing numerous plays that enabled his team beat Menengai Oilers 29-7.
Harambee Starlets and Kenya Police Bullets FC goalkeeper, Annedy Kundu, also made the nomination list following her exemplary performance at the 2024 Cecafa Women’s Challenge Cup, where she was named the Most Valuable Player.
Other nominees were cricket player Kreeshna Mehta, who is part of the Kenya U-19 team. He was recognised for the 288 runs she made as Kenya beat Malawi at the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda.
World U-20, 5,000m champion, Andrew Alamisi, who won Kenya’s second gold in history in the event in Lima, Peru, was also in consideration.
