Beatrice Chebet lands Sports Personality of the Month award

By Peter Ochieng

Double Olympic gold medalist Beatrice Chebet is the LG Sports Journalists’ Association of Kenya (SJAK) Sports Personality of the Month (SPOM) award winner for the month of August 2024.

She landed the award after an extraordinary performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and the 2024 Diamond League action.

At the Olympic Games, Chebet bagged two gold medals, in the women’s 5,000 and 10,000m races to become the first Kenyan woman to achieve the feat.

The 24-year-old Major in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has now received the SPOM award for the fifth time.

LG’s Managing Director for East Africa, Dongwon Lee said he hopes the latest SPOM recognition will motivate Chebet to continue breaking records, while encouraging other upcoming sportsmen and women to emulate her consistency.

“Chebet’s performance at the Olympics was nothing short of outstanding, and we are sure that she will continue to impress globally,” he said.

James Waindi, SJAK President was also at hand to congratulate Chebet. It was a tough call for the SPOM panellists to decide between Chebet and Kipyegon.

Fresh from making history as the first Kenyan to win three 1,500m Olympics titles on the trot, Kipyegon dominated the 2024 Diamond League action.

However, Chebet pipped her after winning two gold medals at the Paris Games. Kipgeny won gold in her 1,500m specialist, and a silver in the 5,000-metre race.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi who won gold in the 800m Olympics race, and KCB Rugby Halfback Emmanuel Opondo, who played a key role as the bankers won their third consecutive Kabereri Sevens title were the other shortlists for the award.

The others were Harambee Starlets and Kenya Police Bullets FC goalkeeper, Annedy Kundu, cricket player Kreeshna Mehta and World U-20, 5000m champion, Andrew Alamisi.

Alamisi won gold in history in the event in Lima, Peru.