*Undated
As the country marks this day with the annual Jamhuri Day celebrations, long distance athletes, Faith Kipyegon and Peres Jepchirchir through the President, have been awarded prestigious state commendations.
Olympic 1500M Gold Medalist Kipyegon and Olympic marathon champion Jepchirchir have been awarded with the Order of the Grand Warrior. Kipyegon has also been shortlisted for the BBC African Sports Personality of the Year award alongside marathon great Eliud Kipchoge.
The Order of the Grand Warrior (O.G.W) is an award presented to individuals in recognition of an outstanding service rendered to the country in different responsibilities and capacities. More importantly, it is an award presented to those who put their lives at risk to save their fellow countrymen.
The recipients of the O.G.W are those who leave a lasting image on their fellow countrymen by putting their country first before their personal feelings and interests.
Following the huge commendation, Kipyegon was nominated after setting an Olympic record in Tokyo as she defended the 1,500m title she first won in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. The Kenyan dedicated the win to her three-year-old daughter, whom she credits with giving her extra motivation after taking a 21-month break from the sport.
The dedication was all the more significant since Kipyegon is only the third athlete to retain an Olympic title after giving birth between Games (along with Australia's Shirley Strickland, in 1956, and Cameroon's Francoise Mbango, in 2008).
Prior to her stellar display in Japan, she had set a world-leading time of 3:51.07 - the fourth-fastest time in history - in Monaco in July at the Diamond League, an event in which she was crowned the year's champion in September.
Peres Jepchirchir wowed Kenyans and the world over after winning the Olympic women’s marathon in Sapporo on Saturday, August 7th . Jepchirchir beat fellow Kenyan and world record holder Brigid Kosgei in the closing stages of the race, going on to win the race in 2 hours, 27 minutes, and 20 seconds.
The 27-year-old beat all the odds stacked against her to ascend to glory in the world of athletics but had to endure many obstacles in her quest to become a success in long-distance running. Jepchirchir emerged as the first Olympic champion to win the five boroughs New York City 42km race.
Last year, Jepchirchir joined the legendary trio of Tegla Loroupe, Paula Radcliffe and Lornah Kiplagat as the only women to win more than one half marathon world title with her exploits in 2016 Cardiff and 2020 Gdynia.