2024 is on and fast running away. This is a year which is jam-packed with lots of sporting activities in the World.
This to many is a clean slate to showcase their sporting stardom. In Kenya, many athletes from different sporting arenas will grab this fresh opportunity with both hands to etch their names to the annals of prestige, and jubilation.
Here are five Kenyans who have all to lose this year in their respective sporting discipline.
- ELIUD KIPCHOGE
2023 was a bit underwhelming by Kipchoge’s standards. His major under-par performance came in April 2023 when Kipchoge finished sixth in the Boston Marathon (2:09.23) – this was his slowest, and poorest marathon performance since the 2020 London Marathon.
This made some people doubt Kipchoge; they thought his downfall had arrived.
However, his moment came in the Berlin Marathon when he won the marathon for a record fifth time (2:02.42). This silenced his critics of the Boston Marathon exploits.
2024 will be the year many athlete fans look forward to since there is a huge chance of Kipchoge and the 24-year-old Kenyan sensation Kelvin Kiptum locking horns in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
- KELVIN KIPTUM
The sky is the limit for the 2023 Best Male Athlete. He took the Marathon competition by the scruff of its horns. Breaking the World Record after running an incredible time of 2:00.35 in the Chicago Marathon in October.
He will be aspiring to become the first human to officially run under 2 hours in the 42-kilometer discipline.
- ANGELA OKUTOYI
Transitioning into senior tennis has been ‘okay’ for Okutoyi. She became the second Kenyan to win the ITF W15 Gold medal in Monastir in July 2023. She ended the year on a high by bagging her second Gold medal after winning the W25 in Kenya.
2024 will be a year where Okutoyi hopes to go deep in the Grand Slam competitions and make history.
- FAITH KIPYEGON
After breaking three world records in 2023(1500, 5000, and Miles), and later winning the Best Female Athlete award, Kipyegon will have an eye on the Olympics. She hopes to win three Olympic world titles in the 1500 meters on top of breaking her world records.
- Ferdinand Omanyala
Having tasted success in the Diamond League meetings, the 100 African and Commonwealth champion had the 100-meter title taken away from him in 2023.
In 2024 he will be salivating to make history by becoming the first Kenyan to win the 100-meter Olympic title.
These are some of the many athletes in Kenya with great sporting aspirations in 2024. Will they live up to the bill? This remains a mystery; let’s meet at the end of the year and unravel this rubble. God Willing.
