Sports
Kipchoge Among Five Finalists For 2021 Male World Athlete Of The Year
Marathon world record holder and two-time Olympic Champion Eliud Kipchoge is among five finalists for the 2021 Male World Athlete of the Year.
On Monday evening, World Athletics announced the five male athletes, who are representing five different countries.
Kipchoge was named Male Athlete of the Year for two years in a row; in 2018, after setting the 2:01:39 World Record and in 2019 when he entered into the annals of history as the only human being to run under two hours in a marathon at the INEOS 1:59 challenge in Vienna.
He timed 1:59:40.
According to World Athletics, the male and female World Athletes of the Year will be announced at the WA Awards 2021, which will take place virtually on December 1.
World Athletics also named 5000m Olympic champion and world record holder (in both 5000m and 10,000m) Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda.
Cheptegei also won 10,000m silver for his country at the Tokyo Olympics. He also recorded a world-leading 8:09.55 for two miles.
Pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis of Sweden who was named Male Athlete of 2020 has also been named as a 2021 finalist. He is an Olympic, Diamond League and European indoor pole vault champion.
“The five athletes, who represent five countries from three area associations, have produced some exceptional performances across a range of athletics disciplines in 2021, at the Tokyo Olympic Games, one-day meeting circuits and other events around the world,” WA said in a statement.
Other finalists are US shot put athlete Ryan Crouser, also an Olympic champion, and Norwegian Karsten Warholm, who won 400m hurdles at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
“The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family cast their votes by email, while fans voted online via the World Athletics social media platforms.
“The World Athletics Council’s vote counted for 50% of the result, while the World Athletics Family’s votes and the public votes each counted for 25% of the final result. Voting closed on 6 November,” WA said.
Dennis Ombachi, popular rugby player and chef has set tongues wagging after sharing a snippet of his toddler son showcasing that he can float on water and swim to safety.
Ombachi took to his Instagram page to share a video throwing the little boy into the water, leaving many in shock.
In the short video, the rugby player lifted his son up, kissed him, then he tossed him into a swimming pool by the leg.
“Four weeks since we started water safety classes and my son graduated today, officially water safe!” Ombachi gushed on Twitter about his son’s abilities.
Once in the water, the baby boy quickly gets himself to a floating position and kicks his feet moving forward steadily. It appears that he can get himself out of a pool and even keep his head up to breathe after having been taught the life skill early on.
Following the child’s accomplishment, Ombachi said that he is a “proud father”
“Proud of you my naughty boy, you’re finally Water Safe, less worries for us when you are out of our sight having successfully completed your water safety class. Happy graduation day,” he wrote on Instagram.
Since his early Monday morning post, the self-taught chef has been trending on Twitter, with over 5000 tweets being made about him, with netizens sharing mixed reactions.
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Athletics Kenya (AK) is impressed with the progress made by inferior athletes at the ongoing vacation camp.
The camps are aimed at preparing athletes for the World Under-20 tournament in Cali, Colombia.
AK President Jack Tuwei who was speaking in Kapsumbeiywo All4Running youth camp which is headed by former world
800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei, said he was impressed by the turnout of the youth in colorful camps.
“We have 26 camps across the country and we are happy because they are training well thanks to the government who have helped in funding them. As a federation we shall do our part and make sure we get some of the best from these camps,” Tuwei said.
Kenya will be seeking to retain the title for the younger team for the third time in a row in the tournament set for August after winning in Tampere, Finland in 2018 and again last time in Nairobi.
AK youth head trainer Robert Ngiserei said the early medication will enable the country to present a strong platoon across the all events.
“At the Youth Sub Committee, we have embraced this program as it will help us improve more on the development of talent which will ensure our country remains as an athletics powerhouse,” Ngiserei said.
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