Eliud Kipchoge has been named IAAF Male Athlete of the year 2018 at the awards ceremony held in Monaco on Tuesday evening, the headquarters of the of the athletics world governing body.
Kipchoge who is the world Marathon record holder won the award after setting a new record this year of 2 hours, o1 minutes and 39 seconds.
“This award means a lot to me, it shows the significant of my entire career,” said the overjoyed Kipchoge.
He is the second Kenyan to win this award since David Rudisha in 2010 and managed to defeat Kevin Mayer, a world holder in Decathlon to bag this award.
High profile leaders and Kenyans, in general, have sent him congratulatory messages through various social media platform.
The first one to congratulate him was Deputy President William Ruto, who regarded him for his prowess and said he deserves an accolade for his strength in the field.
“Congratulations to Eliud Kipchoge for being named IAAF Male Athlete of the year 2018. A legend of the game, Kipchoge deserves the highest accolade for his prowess, consistency, tact, endurance, dominance and strength of character,” read part of the statement from Ruto.
The female award of the year was bagged by Colombian Catherine Ibarguen.