Kenyan athlete Eliud Kipchoge has been nominated for the Sportsman of the Year in the Laureus World Sports Awards.
He was nominated among some of the best sportsmen in the world including Lionel Messi, Tiger Woods, Rafael Nadal and Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton.In November 2019, Kipchoge won World Athletics Athlete.
The news of Kipchoge's nomination for the award came shortly after he rubbished claims that the Nike shoes he used in the INEOS 1:59 marathon challenge in Vienna last year where he finished a full marathon in under 2 hours, gave him 'undue advantage'.
Kipchoge used Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton, with whom he was later nominated alongside, as an example in dismissing the claims.
"It's the person who is running, and not the shoes," he said.
"It is (Lewis) Hamilton who does the driving and not Pirelli tyres," he added.
Kipchoge became the topic of discussion last year after he finished a full marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds.
Other slots in the award are as follows; Sportswoman of the year, the team of the year, the breakthrough of the year, the comeback of the year, sportsperson of the year with a disability and action sportsperson of the year.