By Stuart Bogere

KIU, Main Campus - Joshua Cheptegei, the world record holder for 5,000 and 10,000 meters, has been nominated for the 2021 Laureus Awards in the World Sportsman of the Year categories.

Cheptegei recently broke the world record set by legendary Ethiopian runner, Kenenisa Bekele, in the 5km and 10km, and a stellar 2020 in which he became the tenth man in history to hold the 5,000 and 10,000 metres world records concurrently. 

He remembered when he set a time of 12 minutes 35.36 seconds in the 5km in Monaco in August, and 26 minutes 11.00 seconds in the 10km in Valencia last year in October.

The Laureus World Sports Academy members are chosen by a panel of more than 1,000 sports journalists who select the nominees and the winners.

The 2021 Laureus World Sports Awards will be held in May as a virtual event, instead of the annual gala ceremony, due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.