Top woman Obiri’s tribute to journalists

World 5,000 metres champion Hellen Obiri with her trophy after being named the 2017 Sportswoman of the Year during the Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year awards gala at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre on January 17, 2017. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Speaking after she was named Kenya’s “Sportswoman of the Year” for 2017 at the Safaricom Sports personality of the Year awards gala, Obiri praised the scribes’ passion and dedication in ensuring the public is informed.
  • “I want to thank also sports journalists who go out of their way to ensure that they cover sporting events both at home and internationally. It is a great sacrifice and I laud their great work and time they take to ensure we (athletes) are covered all the time,” the Kenya Defence Forces runner added.

Hardly are journalists appreciated on such grand occasions, but world 5,000 metres champion Hellen Obiri on Wednesday night departed from the norm and paid tribute to Kenya’s sports media for going the extra mile to tell the athlete’s story.

Speaking after she was named Kenya’s “Sportswoman of the Year” for 2017 at the Safaricom Sports personality of the Year awards gala, Obiri praised the scribes’ passion and dedication in ensuring the public is informed.

“I want to thank also sports journalists who go out of their way to ensure that they cover sporting events both at home and internationally. It is a great sacrifice and I laud their great work and time they take to ensure we (athletes) are covered all the time,” the Kenya Defence Forces runner added.

She had been nominated in the category alongside Faith Chepng’etich (1,500m), Edna Kiplagat (marathon), Snaida Aura (rugby) and Edith Wisa (volleyball).