Faith Kipyegon, a decorated Kenyan athlete and triple Olympic champion, has been nominated for the prestigious Laureus World Sports Award in the World Sportswoman of the Year category. This recognition comes after a spectacular 2024 season, where Kipyegon achieved remarkable feats in the world of athletics.
In the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kipyegon made history by winning the 1500m gold, marking her third consecutive victory in this event at the Olympics. With this triumph, she became the first woman in Olympic history to secure three gold medals in a single track event, a groundbreaking achievement that added to her already impressive legacy.
Alongside her Olympic success, Kipyegon also shattered her own world record in the 1500m, setting a new standard in the sport. She also set a new Olympic record in the 1500m and earned a silver medal in the 5000m event at the Olympics, showcasing her exceptional prowess in both middle- and long-distance running.
Her outstanding achievements throughout 2024 have earned her a nomination for the World Sportswoman of the Year award, placing her alongside some of the most celebrated athletes from around the globe.
She will compete with fellow nominees, including Sifan Hassan, a middle-distance runner from the Netherlands, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, a renowned hurdler from the USA.
Other nominees in the category include gymnastics star Simone Biles, tennis world number one Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus, and Aitana Bonmati, the winner of the Ballon d’Or for women’s football from Spain.
This year, Kipyegon is Kenya’s only nominee for the Laureus World Sports Awards. If she wins, she will become the first Kenyan athlete, male or female, to receive the prestigious award since Vivian Cheruiyot’s win in 2012.
The winners of the Laureus Awards are chosen by the Laureus World Sports Academy, a panel consisting of more than 60 legendary athletes and sporting icons. These academy members review the nominees’ exceptional achievements and cast secret ballots to determine the winners.
Winners of the Laureus Awards receive a unique silver trophy, known as the Laureus Statuette, which depicts a human figure with outstretched arms holding up the world. This prestigious recognition not only honors the athlete’s achievements but also elevates their status in the global sporting community.
Unlike many other awards, the Laureus World Sports Awards emphasize the honor and legacy of the winners rather than offering financial rewards. However, past laureates often collaborate with the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which uses sports to foster positive social change.
The Laureus World Sports Awards are among the most respected and sought-after honors in the sports world. These awards stand out because they celebrate excellence across all sports, unlike sport-specific awards such as the Ballon d’Or for football. The global nature of the Laureus Awards makes them highly respected, as they acknowledge outstanding achievements in a variety of sporting disciplines.
Some of the most legendary athletes in history have won Laureus Awards, including Usain Bolt (athletics), Serena Williams (tennis), Roger Federer (tennis), Lionel Messi (football), and Michael Schumacher (motorsport), underscoring the award’s prestigious reputation.
The 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, April 21, in Madrid, Spain, marking a special milestone for the event. The 2024 edition will celebrate the 25th anniversary since the inaugural Laureus Sports Awards were held in Monaco in 2000.
As part of this special anniversary edition, Laureus has promised an extraordinary celebration, bringing together the biggest names in sport and celebrity fans, making it an event that will honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future.
Other categories for this year’s awards include Sportsman of the Year, Team of the Year, Breakthrough of the Year, Comeback of the Year, and Sportsperson with a Disability.
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