Kenyan track master Elijah Manangoi and track mistresses Hellen Obiri and Faith Chepng’etich Kipyegon are among the top 100 athletes named as the most influential Africans in 2017.
In the list that was dominated by South Africans, the New African Magazine named the trio who dominated the 2017 track races. Manangoi won the 1,500m IAAF World title in London, same to Hellen Obiri in 5,000m after beating 10,000m world record holder Almaz Ayana and Chepng’etich won the 1,500m title in London winning against South African caster Semenya.
The three are among other African athletes who were announced by the New African Magazine which besides sports had other categories such as politics and public service, business and finance, education, technology and media.
Manangoi was the fastest man in the world this year after winning Gold medal in London during the World Championships, beating Timothy Cheruiyot in a domestic rival to take the title in 3: 33.61 ahead of Cheruiyots’ 3:33.99.
The Narok based runner won the Diamond League competitions in Monaco with a world leading time of 3:28.80.
Olympic 5,000m silver medalist Obiri beat Ayana in 5,000m at the World Championships in 14:34.86 and a 5,000m national record by winning Rome Diamond League.
Youthful Chepng’etich won the 1,500m title, adding her Olympic games title. She became the third woman in history to win both the Olympic and World titles in the 1500m race in a row.
They also named Nigerian Anthony Joshua, the affable Boxing heavyweight Champion, Mo sala (Egypt) footballer, Caster Semenya (South Africa), athletics, Eniola Aluko (Nigeria) football, Wayde Van Niekerk (South Africa) Athletics, Asisat Oshoala (Football)- Nigeria and South African cricketer Kagiso Rabada.
Selected influential individuals
- Hellen Obiri (Kenya)-Athletics
- Elijah Manangoi (Kenya)-Athletics
- Faith Chepng’etich (Kenya)-Athletics
- Almaz Ayana (Ethiopia) –Athletics
- Anthony Joshua (Nigerian)-Boxing
- Mohamed Sala (Egypt)-Footballer
- Caster Semenya (South Africa)-Athletics
- Eniola Aluko (Nigeria)-Football
- Wayde Van Niekerk (South Africa) Athletics
- Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria)- Football
- Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)-Cricket