Paralympians Nancy Chelagat and Hellen Wawira are leading the shortlist for the Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) Sportswoman with disability.
Chelagat won gold in the T11 400m race in 1.04.25 seconds 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.
Para-lifting champion Hellen Wawira, who won a gold medal in the world Para-Powerlifting championship in St. Louis, USA with a lift of 98kg, proceeded to the Commonwealth games in Birmingham where she won the bronze medal in the women’s lightweight competition with a best lift of 97kg.
Also looking to win the coveted award, are the Deaflympics athletics trio of Beryl Wamira, Linnet Nanjala and Serah Wangari.
Wamira won silver in the 4x400m Relay and 4x400m mixed Relay at the Caxias Do Sul Deaflympics and settled for bronze in the 4x100m Relay and 200m at the same event.
Nanjala also settled for silver medal in the 4x400m Relay and 4x400m mixed Relay in Caxius Do Sul.
Wangari, on the other hand, took the 10,000m silver in Brazil opening Kenya’s medal account before clinching bronze in Steeplechase.
Sportswoman of the Year Living With a Disability SOYA Nominees:
Nancy Chelangat – Para- Athletics
Hellen Wawira – Para-lifter
Beryl Wamira – Deaf-Athletics
Linnet Nanjala – Deaf-Athletics
Serah Wangari – Deaf-Athletics