Soya Awards: Olympic champions Wanyonyi, Chebet crowned the best in 2024

Reigning Olympic champions Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Beatrice Chebet are the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year winners of the 21st edition of the Sports Personality of the Year Awards (Soya) gala held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on Thursday night.

Wanyonyi was voted the best man in the category at the gala, that rewarded sportsmen and women who excelled in the 2024 season, following his triumph in the 800m at the Paris Olympics last year.

Wanyoyi also broke the world road mile record in the season, in a time of 3:54.56 at the Adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany.

Likewise, the gala themed ‘Celebrating women excellence in sports’ rewarded Chebet for a successful season where, despite winning two gold medals at the Paris Olympics (5000m and 10000m), she also successfully defended her World Cross Country Championships title in Belgrade, Serbia, and broke the 10000m world record during the Prefontaine Classic leg of the Diamond League where she clocked 28:54.14.

Chebet would later break the 5km world record in December 2024 at the Cursa dels Nassos where she clocked 13:54, becoming the first woman to break the 14-minute barrier on any surface. The previous world record of 14:13 was held by Agnes Jebet.

Wanyonyi dedicated the glittering gong to his mother, who he said struggled with him and his siblings to make ends meet and to reach where they are as a family.

“I’m happy. I was not expecting victory because the field in this category was tight, but I’m grateful to God and to my mother, who stretched beyond her limits to ensure I pursue a career in athletics,” elated Wanyonyi told Standard Sports.

“Winning this accolade simply means I’m getting better in the game, step by step. It shows that I have a bright future in the sport,” the men’s 800m Olympic champion underlined.

And how has the Soya Award inspired Wanyonyi in the sport?

“Yes, I’m now motivated to do better this season, so I can return on this podium to receive more accolades next year.

“I now feel I have the energy to do build-ups for the forthcoming World Championship in Tokyo, Japan this September where I’m targeting gold after I failed in the mission last year in Budapest,” Wanyonyi highlighted.

“In Tokyo, I’m not only aiming for gold but to run a Personal Best, but I’m not promising to lower any record,” said Wanyonyi who started off his new season on a high by triumphing in the men’s 1500m category at the inaugural Grand Slam Track held in Kingston, Jamaica a fortnight ago.

Elated Chebet was not present at the KICC to receive her trophy but nonetheless, she addressed the audience through a recorded video at her training ground in Uasin Gishu County saying: “I’m very happy to be named Soya Sportswoman of the Year winner. I’m grateful to those who believed, trusted, chose and voted for me. I have always come so close to winning this; like in the 2018, 2022 and 2023 seasons but I’m glad that finally we did it. It was hard work, perseverance, and discipline that delivered this trophy and I’m grateful.

“The reason why I’m not with you tonight at the KICC is that I have been preparing intensively for the new season and will be on my way to the Wanda Diamond League in China where I’m hopeful to do better.

“Once again, great thanks go to all my fans, supporters and Kenyans at large. I’m training hard in order not to let you people down. I promise to deliver in this new season, I promise to lower more records so I can come back to Soya and celebrate with you next season.”