Kenyan Olympic champions Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet were honored with the prestigious Golden Plate Award from the Academy of Achievement during a glittering ceremony at New York’s Lincoln Center on September 22, adding another accolade to the impressive list of achievements for both athletes.
President William Ruto, who is in the USA for the UNGA conference, presented the awards to Kipyegon and Chebet. In a statement accompanying photos of the event, President Ruto congratulated the athletes, saying:
“The extraordinary honour is a solid tribute to your hard work, talent, and dedication to athletics. No doubt, it will inspire upcoming athletes and help shape our country’s sports.”
The images show Kipyegon and Chebet bowing on stage to receive their medals from the Kenyan president, symbolizing the significance of the moment for Kenyan athletics.
This recognition comes on the heels of remarkable performances by both athletes. Faith Kipyegon, hailing from Bomet, recently clinched her 5th Diamond League title in the 1500m race at the Brussels Diamond League. This victory followed her outstanding performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she secured two medals.
Kipyegon’s journey to Olympic glory was not without drama. Initially disqualified in favor of Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, she was reinstated after a successful Kenyan appeal, ultimately claiming the silver medal. She then went on to break the Olympic record in the 1500m with a stunning time of 3:51:29.
Beatrice Chebet’s achievements were equally impressive. She sprinted to victory in both the 5000m and 10,000m races at the 2024 Paris Olympics, contributing two gold medals to Team Kenya’s impressive haul.
Kipyegon’s rise to fame has been meteoric since breaking the world record in the 1500 meters, a feat she repeated in July 2024 at the Diamond League in Paris. Her performances have endeared her to Kenyans, earning her the title of the nation’s “golden girl.”
The success of Kipyegon and Chebet contributed significantly to Kenya’s overall performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the nation secured a total of 11 medals, leading the medal count among African teams.
This recognition by the Academy of Achievement not only celebrates the individual accomplishments of Kipyegon and Chebet but also highlights Kenya’s continuing dominance in global athletics.
