As 2024 comes to an end, it’s impossible not to marvel at Beatrice Chebet’s outstanding phenomenal year, especially on the very last day of it. She ended the year with a bang, breaking the women’s 5km world record in a stunning performance. From Olympic double gold to breaking world records, she’s proven time and again what Kenyans have got. Yet, despite dominating the track in ways few athletes ever do, she was shockingly left out of the Athlete of the Year nominations.

Earlier this month, at the World Athletics Awards, the decision was made, and Chebet’s name was nowhere to be found. This snub had sparked outrage at that time, and once again, the conversation has started. Fans are furious, demanding recognition after her recent historic win.

On December 31st, double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet capped off an incredible year by breaking the women’s 5km world record at the Cursa dels Nassos road race in Barcelona. She finished with a stunning time of 13 minutes and 54 seconds, surpassing her own record set on the same day a year ago by 19 seconds. With this victory, she became the first woman to break the 14-minute barrier in the event, a remarkable feat that highlighted her dominance in the sport.

However, as Beatrice Chebet celebrated her incredible achievement, fans were left frustrated, especially after the announcement of the 2024 World Athlete of the Year nominees. One fan expressed their disbelief, saying, “And couldn’t even get featured in the 2024 World Athlete of the Year award. Nice joke!” It’s clear that many are disappointed by the lack of recognition for Chebet, despite her stellar performances, including her gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the Paris Olympics. So, what exactly happened?

Fans’ outrage over Beatrice Chebet’s exclusion from Athlete of the Year

Olympic 5000m/10000m champion, 10000m World Champion at the Prefontaine Classic 2011, World Cross Country Champion, Belgrade, Diamond League 5000/10000m champion.  This year Beatrice emerged as the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold in the 10,000m race among other achievements. What a performance. She was excellent in track and cross country and now this is another record. But still, Beatrice Chebet did not win the 2024 World Athlete of the Year award.

One person tweeted, “And yet she couldn’t make it to the final shortlisting of the 2024 World Athlete of the Year?” Another fan said, “Please spare us the hypocrisy. She won an olympic double in two of the toughest disciplines in track athletics but you couldn’t nominate her for Athlete of the Year”

Chebet has risen to the rank of a record breaker, a history maker. The first woman to run the 10,000m in under 29 minutes, and the proud owner of her sport. And so to see her left out of the World Athlete of the Year? One said, “Couldn’t feature her in the Athlete of the year Awards 🤣🤣 and she said lemme give them a shame on you tackle.” In all fairness, it is hard not to agree, that in fact, Chebet deserved that global recognition. But that’s not the only case.

Beatrice Chebet was not even shortlisted for the 2024 World Track Athlete of the Year category. Other finalists, however, such as Alfred of Saint Lucia, the Olympic 100m gold and the World Indoor 60m, or Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the USA, the Olympic 400m hurdles champion, were included. And it was clinched by Julien Alfred.

However, fans still recognized her achievements and even one fan put it: “Kenyans are beasts when it comes to marathons,” and another added, “She’s on track to be the greatest Kenyan runner ever!” It’s clear from these comments that fans are pretty frustrated, especially since they feel Beatrice Chebet’s massive achievements, like her Olympic golds and world record, and now another record break in 5km should’ve easily secured her a place among the finalists.