Two-time Olympics Champion Beatrice Chebet. photo SJAK
When Beatrice Chebet won her third SJAK Sports Personality of the month (SPOM) trophy in May 2024, she made a promise to exhaust the wide range of LG products at stake in the monthly award.
True to her word, Chebet continues to call the shots in the LG-sponsored SJAK monthly award incepted in 2018 to support highflying Kenyan athletes.
By and large, the SPOM Award has established itself as a revered tale of trailblazers. Several multiple holders of this coveted award -incepted in 2018- have gone on to conquer the world of sports with zest and vigor.
In August 2024, the trailblazing Chebet tied Angela Okutoyi’s record (of 4) for the most SPOM awards, a rare accolade that’s hitherto a preserve for women athletes.
Chebet became the first ever Kenyan woman to lay her hands on an Olympics 10,000-meters gold in her debut at the Summer Games which saw her rack up 5,000-meters gold.
Angela Okutoyi All African Games champion photo NOCK
In 2022, Chebet won gold medals in the 5000 m at the Commonwealth Games, African Championships, and Diamond League, and a silver medal in the 5000 m at the World Championships. Chebet also won gold medals at the 2023 and 2024 World Cross Country Championships.
Chebet also won gold medals in the 5000 m at the 2018 World U20 Championships and the Junior women section of the 2019 World Cross Country Championships.
In July 2022, Okutoyi made history by becoming the first Kenyan to win a Grand Slam title when she teamed up with Dutch girl Rose Nijkamp to clinch the Wimbledon Junior Tennis doubles title with vim and vigor.
The duo beat the Canadian pair of Kayla Cross and Victoria Mboko 3-6 6-4 11-9.
In a tough final, Okutoyi and Nijkamp lost the opening set but battled hard in the second, to send the match into a tie-break which they won in brilliant fashion.
“My prophesy has been fulfilled and I’m winning this award time and time again. I would like to thank SJAK and LG giving me this opportunity to win the award and I’m glad that I was able to win a double in Paris to win the August trophy. Achieving this feat on my debut Olympics motivates me to go the extra mile,” said Chebet as she received the SPOM August award. The August SPOM couldn’t have come at a better time when she had just racked up the Diamond league overall trophy, also displayed at the SJAK function,” said Chebet.
Upon winning the Grand Slam in 202, Okutoyi 2022 said: “I am truly honored to win this award for the second time in a year and I wish to thank my partner Nijkamp for her resilience through our campaign. Being nominated alongside Kenya’s long and middle-distance runners and beating them to this coveted trophy is no mean achievement. A grand slam win has always been my dream, now it’s no longer a dream but a reality.”
SPOM-ROLL OF HONOR
2017
July: Simon Cherono (Deaflympics)
August: Hellen Obiri (Athletics)
September: Janet Okelo (Kenya Lionesses Rugby)
October: Edith Wisa (Volleyball)
November: Ismael Changawa (Tennis)
December: Fatma Zarika (Boxing)
2018:
January: Cynthia Onyango Akinyi (Telkom Hockey)
February: Felmas Adhiambo (Kpa Basketball)
March: Geoffrey Kamworor (Athletics)
April: Wycliffe Kinyamal (Athletics)
May: Judy Waguthii (Boxing)
June: Manvir Baryan (Motorsports)
July: Maria Brunhelner (Swimming)
August: Beatrice Chepkoech (Athletics)
September: Eliud Kipchoge. (Athletics)
October: Sashah Mongeli (Chess)
November: Mary Keitany (Athletics)
December: Jackline Mwangi (Telkom Hockey)
2019
January: Greg Snow (Golf)
February: Amos Kirui (Athletics)
March: Beatrice Chebet (Athletics)
April: Vincent Mutai (Paralympics)
May: Jacob Ojee (Rugby)
June-December: No Award/ Sponsorship
2020
January: Cynthia Onyango (Telkom Hockey)
March-December: Covid
Lg Electronics East Africa
2021
January: Angela Okuyoyi (Tennis)
February: Tylor Okari Ongwae (Kenya Morans’ Basketball)
March: Elly Ajowi (Boxing)
April: Ruth Chepngetich (Marathon)
May: Titus Ekiru (Marathon)
June: Onkar Singh Rai (Motor Rallying)
July: Victoria Reynolds (Basketball)
August: Faith Kipyegon (Athletics)
September 2021: Ferdinand Omanyala (Athletics)
October: Alvin ‘Buffa’ Otieno (Rugby 7s)
November: Peres Jepchirchir (Athletics)
December: Brenda Ariviza (Handball)
2022
January: Angela Okutoyi (Tennis)
February: Mcrae Kimathi (Rallying-Junior WRC)
March Ruth Chepngetich (Athletics)
April: Evans Chebet (Athletics)
May: Sharon Chepchumba (Volleyball)
June: Maxine Wahome (Motorsports)
July: Angela Okutoyi (Tennis)
August: Ferdinand Omanyala (Athletics)
September: Eliud Kipchoge (Athletics)
October: Karan Patel (Rallying)
November: Grace Adhiambo (Lioness Rugby)
December: Sarah ‘Angel of War’ Achieng’ (Boxing)
2023
January: Pamela Adhiambo (Volleyball)
February: Beatrice Chebet (Athletics)
March: Rosemary Wanjiru (Athletics)
April: Kelvin Kiptum (Athletics)
May: Simon Kipkorir (Volleyball)
June: Faith Kipyegon (Athletics)
July: Faith Kipyegon (Athletics)
August: Aldrine Kibet (School’s Football)
September: Patrick Odongo (Kenya 7s Rugby)
October: Pastor Elizabeth Jepchirchir Kiprono of Christian Church (Athletics Fan)
November: Karan Patel (Motor Rallying)
December: Beatrice Chebet, (Athletics)
2024
January: Patrick Odongo (Kenya Rugby 7s)
February: Emmaculate Anyango (Athletics)
March: Angela Okutoyi (Tennis)
April: Peres Jepchirchir (Athletics)
May: Beatrice Chebet (Athletics)
June: Marion Serenge (Football)
July: Griffins Ligare (Basketball)
August: Beatrice Chebet (Athletics)
September:
