Eliud Kipchoge named best male athlete from Tokyo 2020

Marathon World Record holder Eliud Kipchoge was named as the best male athlete from Tokyo 2020 in a classy awards ceremony held in Greece, organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).

Kipchoge’s gold medal was the last won at the Tokyo Olympic Games when he strode to victory in the streets of Sapporo, successfully defending the title he won four years back in Rio de Janeiro.

Kipchoge, the fastest man officially and unofficially over the marathon, became only the third man in history to win back to back Olympic Gold medals in the Marathon.

Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila and Germany’s Waldemar Cierpinski are the only other men to have accomplished the feat in modern Olympic history.

“When you win two Olympic gold medals back-to-back, its making history because only three people have done it, I’m happy to have done that in the year 2020 in the Tokyo Olympic Games,” Kipchoge said as he received the award.

He added, “The Tokyo 2020 Games was important Olympics ever because it brought hope to the whole world after the Covid-19 crashed the whole world. I enjoyed the track and field for 10 years and it is good I made a huge transfer to the road and make a huge mark and inspire the whole world to love the sport and spread positivity.”

Kipchoge was awarded by the president of Association of National Olympics Committee of Africa Mustapha Berraf at the Open Air Theatre of the Creta Maris Beach Hotel, in Greece.

The 36-year old came off strong in Tokyo, having stayed out of competitive for almost a year following his disappointing run at the 2019 London Marathon. He was super ready for his title retention campaign.

He clocked a superb time of 2hrs, 8mins and 38secs to clinch the title in Tokyo.

He was heads and shoulders above everyone else as his winning time ahead of second placed Abdi Negeeye of the Netherlands was also the largest winning margin in men’s Olympic marathon since 1972.

Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge crosses the finish line to win the men’s marathon final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Sapporo on August 8, 2021. (Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

Kipchoge will now look to also clinch the World Athletics Male Athlete of the year award after making the top 10 list.

Meanwhile, Canadian swimmer Maggie McNeil was named as the best female athlete while Cuban wrestler Mijain Lopez was handed the award of the most outstanding athlete performance after clinching his fourth Olympic title.

The Japanese baseball team was named best team of the Olympics after beating the odds to clinch the Olympic title while New Zealand’s women’s rugby team, the Black Ferns were awarded as the best women’s sports team after winning gold for a second consecutive Olympics.

Awards:

Best Male Athlete of Tokyo 2020 – Eliud Kipchoge

Eliud Kipchoge receiving his award

Best Female Athlete of Tokyo 2020 – Canadian Maggie Mac Neil

Outstanding Athlete Performance – Cuban Mijain Lopez

Best Male Team at Tokyo 2020 – Japan National Baseball Team

Best Female Team at Tokyo 2020 – New Zealand Rugby Team

Best Male Multiple Athlete Event of Tokyo 2020 – Italy Cycling Track Pursuit Team

Best Female Multiple Athlete Event of Tokyo 2020 – Estonia Fencing Epee Team