2023 was a whirlwind in the world of sports with Kenyan sports personalities dominating the headlines. Fresh faces also emerged from the shadows to redefine greatness.
Below are six Kenyan sports personalities who reached greater heights in 2023.
1. Faith Kipyegon
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Kipyegon made headlines in 2023 after she set a new world record in the 1,500m when she won the Florence Diamond League on June 2 in 3:49.11 before breaking the 5,000m world record a week later with victory in 14:05.20 in the Paris Diamond League.
Kipyegon's third record came in Monaco, where she smashed the previous mile mark by five seconds, clocking 4:07.64.
Her exemplary performance continued in the World Athletic Championships in Budapest Hungary where she won gold for Kenya in the 1500 meters title and delivered another masterclass in the 5,000 meters within fourteen minutes and fifty-three seconds.
Kipyegon ended her athletic calendar with a bang after she was crowned Female World Athlete of the Year in track events by the World Athletics.
2. Kelvin Kiptum
Kiptum in October smashed the world marathon record during the Chicago marathon clocking 2:00:35 nearly breaking the two-hour barrier.
The 23-year-old broke Eliud Kipchoge’s world record of 2:01:09 which was set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon.
In April, Kiptum ran an astonishing 2:01:25 in London to record the second-fastest time in history at the time.
Kiptum ran his debut marathon in Valencia, Spain, on December 4, 2022 and finished first in a time of 2:01:53.
He was in December crowned as the Men Athlete of the Year in the Out of Stadia category.
Kiptum was also conferred with the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) by President Ruto during the Jamuhuri Day Celebrations in December 12 at State House.
3. Aldrine Kibet
Kibet came to the limelight during the Kenya Secondary School Sports Association (KSSSA) games when he scored 25 goals and provided 27 assists.
He propelled St Anthony’s Boys Kitale to victory after beating Dagoretti High School in the finals.
Following the exemplary performance, Kibet joined the prestigious Nastic Soccer Academy (NSA) in Tarragona, Spain.
The 17-year-old also featured in the recently concluded CECAFA U-18 Championship where Kenya lost to Uganda in the final.
He however got the coveted golden boot after he scored in each of Kenya's three group games.
4. Ferdinand Omanyala
The 27-year-old became the first Kenyan to win the 100m at a Diamond League Meeting in Monaco in July after edging out former World U20 Champion Letsile Tebogo in a time of 9.92.
Omanyala in September won the men's 100m at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting in Zagreb, Croatia clocking 9.94 seconds.
The Kenyan sprinter was feted with Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) by President Ruto on December 12.
5. Mary Moraa
The 23-year-old won the 800-meter title at the World Championships in Budapest Hungary clocking 1:56:03.
Prior to the World Championships, Moraa had won the women’s 800m during the IAAF Diamond League competition at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on May 28, 2023.
She clocked a time of 1:58.72 to win the race ahead of Catriona Bisset of Australia and Sage Hurta-Klecker of the US.
Moraa was on December 12 feted with the Order of Grand Warrior (OGW) at State House Nairobi.
6. Angela Okutoyi
The Kenyan Tennis sensation in July made history after winning her first professional title the W15 Monastrir tournament in Tunisia. Okutoyi put on a strong performance in the final defeating American Isabella Harvison.
The win saw the 19-year-old climb 60 places to position 1,152 in the global Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles rankings.
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