Kenyan star athlete Beatrice Chebet has been named the LG/SJAK Sports Personality of the Month (SPOM) for August 2024 following her remarkable performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she claimed two gold medals in the women’s 5,000m and 10,000m races.
This is the fifth time Chebet has won the prestigious LS/SJAK SPOM award, further cementing her status as one of Kenya’s top sporting icons.
Chebet, a two-time World Athletics Cross Country champion, made history as the first Kenyan woman to win two gold medals at a single Olympic Games.
Competing in her Olympic debut, the 24-year-old delivered a masterclass performance at the Stade de France, clocking 30:43.25 to win the 10,000m race. Just four days earlier, she had triumphed in the 5,000m final, becoming only the second Kenyan woman to win the event after Vivian Cheruiyot’s victory at the Rio 2016 Games.
In the dramatic 5,000m race, Chebet secured gold with a time of 14:28.56, edging out fellow Kenyan Faith Kipyegon, who took silver in her season-best 14:29.60 after being initially disqualified and later reinstated.
Kipyegon, a three-time 1,500m Olympic champion, had also made history in Paris by winning the 1,500m title back-to-back and setting a new Olympic record of 3:51.29.
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LG’s Managing Director for East Africa, Dongwon Lee, praised Chebet’s exceptional Olympic achievements, expressing hope that her latest recognition would inspire her to continue breaking records while motivating other aspiring athletes.
“Chebet’s performance at the Olympics was nothing short of outstanding, and we are sure that she will continue to impress globally,” Lee said.
Chebet's win over a competitive field of nominees for the SPOM award was a tough call for the panelists, with Kipyegon’s record-breaking feat making her a strong contender.
Other nominees included Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who won Kenya’s fifth consecutive 800m Olympic gold medal, and KCB Rugby Halfback Emmanuel Opondo, who was named the most valuable player at the Kabeberi Sevens after helping KCB secure their third consecutive title.
Harambee Starlets and Kenya Police Bullets FC goalkeeper Annedy Kundu also earned a nomination after being named the most valuable player at the 2024 CECAFA Women’s Challenge Cup. Other contenders included cricket sensation Kreeshna Mehta, who helped Kenya’s U-19 team win at the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifiers, and World U-20 5,000m champion Andrew Alamisi, who won Kenya’s second gold in the event in Lima, Peru.
SJAK President James Waindi congratulated Chebet on her victory and encouraged the other nominees to continue excelling in their respective sports. "All of you are winners in your own right, and we hope you uphold this winning spirit across your various disciplines," Waindi stated.
Chebet’s historic triumph at the Paris 2024 Olympics, coupled with her latest SPOM award, solidifies her as a leading figure in Kenyan athletics, with a bright future ahead on the global stage.