Three-time Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon, world 800m champion Mary Moraa and Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala lead nominations for the 2024 edition of the Pulse Influencer Awards.
The trio were nominated alongside able sports journalists and bloggers who have been vital in promoting Kenyan sports and ensuring fans stay in the loop of what’s happening in the country as far as sports are concerned.
Kipyegon was those nominated following her impressive form despite starting the season late. She claimed the win at the Diamond League Meeting in Paris, breaking the 1500m world record before winning her third 1500m Olympic title in Paris. Kipyegon also won the 5000m in Paris. This marks a series of outstanding performances she has achieved this season, on top of her incredible online presence.
US sprinting legend Sanya Richards-Ross has been handed a major role at women’s-only track event set to be graces by Faith Kipyegon, Mary Moraa, Gabby Thomas among others this month.
On her part, Moraa has been in formidable form, winning the 400m at the African Games and also winning a bronze at the Paris Olympic Games. She broke Caster Semenya’s 600m world best in Berlin and is fresh from winning the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels.
On his part, Omanyala has been making waves and impacting the lives of young sprinters who want to make it to the top like him. He made his second Kenyan Olympic team, competing at the Paris Olympics where he unfortunately exited the stage in the men’s 100m semifinal.
This season, he has also launched the Omanyala Foundation aiming to nurture young sprints talents and is gearing up to host the first tournament on September 28.
Sports Eye Kenya, one of the leading YouTube Sports channels, has also made the cut to the list of nominees. Kenya Sports, a leading athletics Facebook page has also been nominated, thanks to the real-time updates on everything athletics in the country.
Tennis sensation Angella Okutoyi has also made the list with journalists Lotan Salapei, Kevin Teya, and Fred Arocho. Odd Shaped Balls Kenya, a leading rugby blog, has also been nominated.
Faith Kipyegon is not done with her season yet despite her dominant exploits at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels where she claimed her fifth trophy.