In a star studded gala that went down last night at KICC, Vivian Cheruiyot the Double Rio Olympic medalist emerged the overall winner of the 2016 Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA). The runner fondly referred to as ‘pocket rocket’ due to her diminutive stature had a wonderful year In 2016. She managed to win both the Olympic gold in 5000m and silver medal in the 10,000m.
In this year’s SOYA, Cheruiyot beat off tough competition from the likes of Eliud Kipchoge who won the award for the 2016 Sportsman of the Year, Samuel Muchai winner of the 2016 Sportsman Living with a Disability and Nancy Koech, who emerged tops in the 2016 Sportswoman Living with a Disability category. Eliud Kipchoge won the competitive London City Marathon in April 2016 and also won the Olympic gold medal in the marathon.
The president of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation Haile Gebrselassie, who was the celebrity guest at the awards called upon Kenya and Ethiopia to work together in the anti-doping campaign. He emphasized on the need for the two countries to work together on order to protect their reputation. He continued to state that the two countries are renowned world over for their excellence in sports especially road and track races and they have a lot to lose if found to be doping.
The 2016 Award Winners are;
1. Overall Sports Personality: Vivian Cheruiyot – Athletics
2. Sportsman of the Year: Eliud Kipchoge – Athletics
1st Runners Up: Consenslus Kipruto – Athletics
2nd Runners Up: David Rudisha – Athletics
: Collins Injera – Rugby
3. Sportswoman of the Year: Vivian Cheruiyot – Athletics
1st Runners Up: Faith Chepngetich – Athletics
2nd Runners Up: Jemimah Sumgong – Athletics
4. Sports Team of the Year Men: Rugby 7s – Rugby
5. Sports Team of the Year Women: Harambee Starlets – Football
6. Sportswoman with a Disability: Nancy Koech – Athletics
7. Sportsman with a Disability: Samuel Muchai – Athletics
8. Most Promising Boy: Bett Kipyegon – Athletics
9. Most Promising Girl: Mwanahalima Adam – Football
10.Federation/Association of the Year: Tennis Kenya
11.Coach of the year: Jos Openda – Hockey