SOYA Awards gala postponed in honor of Kelvin Kiptum

The organisers of the 20th edition of the Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) gala awards have postponed the ceremony due to the untimely demise of the World Marathon Men’s Record Holder, Kelvin Kiptum who passed away last Sunday in a grisly road accident.

The colorful ceremony was scheduled to be held next week (February 23) but has been pushed to March 1, 2024 in honour of Kiptum who will be laid to rest on March 24, 2024.

Kiptum passed away alongside his Rwandese coach Gervais Hakizimana with the third female occupant and the lone survivor, Sharon Kosgei, who sustained minor injuries.

The 24 year-old broke the world marathon record at the 2023 Chicago marathon when he clocked 2:00:35, slicing off 34 seconds of the previous record of 2:01.09 set two years ago at the Berlin marathon by double Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge.

This achievement saw him earn a nomination for the 2023 Sportsman of the Year.

Kiptum’s death brought to a halt what perhaps could have been another monumental moment as he was to participate in the Rotterdam Marathon on April 14 with an eye of going under the two hour mar.

All his three marathons are under 2:02. His world record was the only men’s world record set outside the Berlin marathon in all the last 9 world records. He was yet to represent the country in Worlds and Olympics.

The Soya Male Athlete of the Year Award could have been his second after scooping the World Athletics Athlete of the Year award in 2023 for his astonishing performances.

Kiptum was to face-off  with the World 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Simiu, Volleyballer, Simon ‘Kosirai’ Kipkorir, Kenya Sevens star Patrick Odongo and the World 800m silver medallist, Emmanuel Wanyonyi.

Top 5 Nominees for the Sportsman of the Year Category

1. Kelvin Kiptum                (Athletics)
2. Daniel Simiu                  (Athletics)
3. Emmanuel Wanyonyi    (Athletics)
4. Patrick Odongo             (Rugby)
5. Simon Kipkorir               (Volleyball)