Notwithstanding his failure of clinching the major awards of the night, Kenya’s top male sportsman of the year trophy, Olympic Champion Eliud Kipchonge did not exit Monaco, France empty handed as he clinched the Exceptional achievement gong at the Laureus Sports Award following his world record feat in Germany late last year.
Kipchoge 34, shaved 78 seconds of the world record on his way to clinching the Berlin Marathon title in September 2018 and that memorable and historic run has earned him a Laureus recognition.
I want to thank all my fans across all social media platforms, I thank everyone especially those who love the sport. A running world or a sporting world is a peaceful world; a sporting world is a healthy world, a sporting world is a wealthy world, a sporting world is an enjoyable world, delighted Kipchoge said after receiving his award at the ceremony held in the prestigious French principality of Monaco.
Kipchoge was also nominated for the sportsman of the year award, a category won by Serbian Tennis sensation Novak Djokovic.
Also nominated in the category was French World Cup winner and PSG sensational Kylian Mbappe, Croatian captain and Real Madrid mid fielder and FIFA best player Croatia’s international and Real Madrid Mid fielder Luka Modric, basketball star LeBron James and five time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton.
This is the best night ever in my sporting career. To be nominated among best sportsmen from across the world, I am proud and I can say I have realized even athletics can actually give a huge impact to the generations in all the world, Kipchoge further stated.
United States of America (USA) gymnast Simone Billes won the corresponding female award while golfing legend Tiger Woods clinched the comeback of the year award.
Former Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger, who hugely mirrored Kicphoge’s speech in his own acceptance remarks, was handed the lifetime achievement award. Wenger caught many by surprise when he quit as Arsenal Manager after a over 20 years of reign as the boss at the London based club, London.