Double Deaflympics Champion Simon Kibai was on Friday feted the Sportsman of the Year Award (SOYA) Sportsman with Disability category, winning the coveted price ahead of Deaf Top golfer Isaac Makokha who came in second and 1500m Deaflympics champion Ian Wambui settled for third.
Kibai soared in the Deaflympics tournament winning the 10,000m and 5,000m track and field races at the Summer Deaflympics Games in Brazil.
Top golfer Makhoha, made history by winning Kenyas’ first-ever golf medal at the Summer Deaflympics Games, while Ian Wambui Kahinga, won the 1500m gold and got silver in 5000m at the same event.
On the Sportswoman with disability category, Para-lifting Champion Hellen Wawira secured the Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) beating Paralympian Nancy Chelagat who came in second and Deaflympic athlete Sarah Wangari third.
Wawira won a gold medal in the world Para-Powerlifting championship in St. Louis, USA with a lift of 98kg and also proceeded to the Commonwealth games in Birmingham where she secured the bronze medal in the women’s lightweight competition with a best lift of 97kg.
On the other hand, Chelagat won gold in the T11 400m race guided by her brother Geoffrey Rotich during the 2022 World Para athletics grand prix and 13th Fazza International Championship in Dubai.
The 2020 Tokyo Paralympics bronze medalist also won silver in the T11 1500m race won by Mary Waithera in a Kenyan podium sweep with Nelly Nasimiyu settling for bronze.
Serah Wangari was on the limelight after clinching the 10,000m silver in Brazil opening Kenya’s medal account before clinching bronze in steeplechase.
