Kipchoge eyeing prestigious Laureus Award
What you need to know:
- Kipchoge, the 2018 IAAF Male Athlete of the Year, said every nominee has an equal chance of winning the award
- The only athlete to have won the award before among the nominees for this year is Djokovic in 2012, 2015 and 2016
- The winner will be unveiled at the 2019 Laureus World Sports Awards gala in Monaco on February 18
World marathon record holder Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge is delighted to be among the six sports men nominated for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.
Kipchoge, the 2018 IAAF Male Athlete of the Year, said every nominee has an equal chance of winning the award.
The winner, as voted for by the 66 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, will be unveiled at the 2019 Laureus World Sports Awards gala in Monaco on February 18.
Also nominated for the award are two football stars; the 2018 World Cup winning player Kylian Mbappe of France and 2018 World Cup best player Luka Modric, who also won the Ballon d'Or.
Tennis star Novak Djokovic, LeBron James, who features for Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the USA and Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton are the other nominees.
Kipchoge, who was last Friday declared the 2018 Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year, broke the World Marathon record last year in Berlin in a new time of 2 hours, 1 minute and 39 seconds.
“I am happy to be nominated and it’s the best feeling in my sports career,” said Kipchoge, 34, who is now training in Kaptagat ahead of his London Marathon title defence on April 28. “All of us are big talents and huge inspirations in the world of sports. Together we can make this world a sporting world.”
Kipchoge will be seeking to become the second Kenyan to have won the award after Vivian Cheruiyot in 2012.
The only athlete to have won the award before among the nominees for this year is Djokovic in 2012, 2015 and 2016.
The Laureus World Sports Awards, which recognise sporting achievements from athletes, are the premier honours on the international sporting calendar.
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year
Novak Djokovic (Serbia) Tennis
Lewis Hamilton (UK) Motor Racing
LeBron James (USA) Basketball
Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) Athletics
Kylian Mbappé (France) Football
Luka Modric (Croatia) Football
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
Simone Biles (USA) Gymnastics
Simona Halep (Romania) Tennis
Angelique Kerber (Germany) Tennis
Ester Ledecka (Czech Republic) Skiing / Snowboarding
Daniela Ryf (Switzerland) Ironman Triathlon
Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) Skiing
